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FRANCIS MARION RAINS 



<BY 
PAUL BOYD RAINS 



ST. LOUIS 

CHRISTIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION 

1922 



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Copyright, 1922 

Christian Board of Publication, 

St. Louis, Missouri. 






©CI.A686577 

OCT 30 "22 



THIS VOLUME IS 

AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED TO 

MY STEPMOTHER 

MRS. ROSE STEPHENS RAINS 

WHOSE SPLENDID CHRISTIAN 
CHARACTER STRENGTHENED 
THE EFFORTS OF MY FATHER 
AND HAS GREATLY ENRICHED 
MY LIFE 



PREFACE 

This volume is a memoir rather than a biography. 
The author has attempted to present a composite 
word picture of Francis Marion Eains as he was 
known by those with whom he lived and labored. 
It is well as we share in the world-wide triumphs 
of righteousness which may be witnessed on every 
hand today, to remember such Christian statesmen 
who have gone before and prepared the way. 
When we confront great problems as a religious 
body it is well to be minded how such men dealt 
with similar problems through the preceding years. 

The book would not be complete without ex- 
pressing appreciation for those who have helped 
to make it possible, among whom are the following : 
B. F. Clay, Carter Simpson, Harry D. Smith, B. L. 
Smith, George W. Muckley, Stephen J. Corey, A. 
E. Cory, C. W. Plopper, Bert Wilson, C. M. 
Yocum, Bruce L. Kershner, George L. Snively, 
E. B. Barnes, Richard H. Crossfield, Joseph D. 
Armistead, James H. Fillmore, C. R. Stauffer, W. 
Remfry Hunt, Mrs. Paul T. Gates, and especially 
my mother, Mrs. Rose S. Rains, whose assistance 
has been invaluable. 

It is with the hope that this volume may per- 
petuate the memory of one whose leadership has 
been widely felt and prove an inspiration to all 
who read it, that it is presented to Disciples of 
Christ everywhere. 

Paul Boyd Rains, 
Denver, Colorado. 

April 9, 1922'. 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 
I 

The Old Kentucky Home 13 

II 
College Days 18 

III 
In the Sunflower State 25 

IV 

The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 40 

V 

Relation to the Missionaries .... 78 

VI 
A Dedicator of Churches 97 

VII 

As an Evangelist 110 

VIII 
As a Friend 120 

IX 
The Close of His Ministry 139 

X 

He Did Good in Israel 159 



INTRODUCTION 

It is with the sense that a great honor has been 
done me that I accede to the request of Paul B. 
Rains to write this short introduction; for I am 
thus permitted to associate my own name with 
one which has become noteworthy and dear in 
many places both in our own land and abroad. 
Indeed, it is difficult to recall a more significant 
name than that of the subject of this volume. 

When I began to know Mr. Rains we were both 
young, he being some years older than I. Almost 
from the first of our association with each other 
I admired and trusted him, and he blessed me with 
his friendship. Since his passing I am not a little 
embarrassed in my practical decisions; for during 
more than thirty years before that event I had 
been wont to refer any matters of first importance 
in my ministry to him, that I might act in them 
in view of his judgment. He honored and helped 
many another younger minister as he did me. 
So it was that such younger men always thought 
of him not as the great secretary, not as the world 
traveler, not as the recipient of academic honors, 
not as the master of assemblies, but as "Brother 
Rains." 

It need hardly be added that Mr. Rains was 
modest; for modesty is ever a part of the secret 
of such capacity as he had for friendship. Who 

9 



10 Introduction 

that glimpsed the relation in which he stood to 
Mr. McLean can forget his self -forgetful attitude 
toward that other mighty man of our recent his- 
tory? Or who that ever noted how generously he 
rated the powers and achievements of younger and 
less known men in the ministry can escape the 
sense of his great and beautiful modesty? 

Another trait that endeared Mr. Rains not only 
to his friends of the ministry but to a whole vast 
Christian communion was his humor. This, in 
him, was no mere adornment. It was rather an 
engine of efficiency at which thousands marveled. 
Results of the finest sort at which others aimed in 
vain, he often achieved through it. That it was 
of the most basic part of him became evident when 
he grew ill; for still he smiled and spoke such 
words of radiant cheer as the most of men cannot 
command in the flower of perfect health. 

Of course Mr. Rains was an orator. He knew 
the art of persuasive speech. He knew how by 
means of spoken words to shape multitudes to 
great ends which he loved. He was a wizard of 
churchly finance. And yet his wizardry is largely 
intelligible. He had a universal cause, that of 
foreign missions, as his theme during the greater 
part of his public life. Besides, from the be- 
ginning of his ministry he conceived with extraor- 
dinary justice and vividness the relation of money 
and property to the Kingdom of Christ. And then 
he had a penetrating insight into the considera- 



Introduction 11 

tions by which men are moved to give these things 
to good causes. And lastly he knew as by a kind 
of revelation and with great certainty who were 
and who were not the fittest persons to forward 
the several parts of the great enterprises in which 
he led. 

How his piety was deepened with the passage 
of the years is well known to many of his friends. 
1 ' How this man Kains has grown ! ' ' So exclaimed 
Charles Louis Loos one day as Mr. Eains con- 
cluded an address on foreign missions. President 
Loos was quite right. |Mr. Eains continued to 
grow. Nothing more characterized him than 
growth. 

It is good to read the story of such a man. I 
covet, therefore, many readers for the following 
pages. 

Harry D. Smith, 
Phillips University, 
Enid, Oklahoma. 

November 1, 1921. 



CHAPTER ONE 

THE OLD KENTUCKY HOME 

On a farm one mile southwest of the village 
now known as Heekin, in Grant Connty, Kentucky, 
Francis Marion Eains was born May 7, 1854. He 
was the eldest son of John Eains. His paternal 
grandfather, who was of French parentage, had 
migrated from Virginia to Kentucky early in the 
nineteenth century, and in a trip back to that 
state was killed by bandits. Later, John's mother 
having married again, he left home as a lad of 
twelve to make his way in the world. He was 
married to Mahala Starns. Of this union, six 
children were born, Francis Marion being the first 
one to die, Ella (Mrs. A. S. Barry) of Temple, 
Texas, dying in the following year. Those sur- 
viving are: Dr. George Rains, Madison, Indiana; 
G. G. Rains, druggist, Aurora, Indiana; Effie 
(Mrs. Joe Gunn), Salisbury, Missouri; Ida (Mrs. 
T. B. Noel), Moberly, Missouri. The mother died 
when the children were still small and the father 
married again, five children being born of this 
marriage, all but one still living. 

Francis Marion's boyhood was spent on several 
different farms within a few miles of his birth- 
place, assisting his father about the place and driv- 
ing cattle to Cincinnati before the Ohio River was 

13 



14 Francis M avion Rains 

bridged. Life was made harder for them all because 
the father indorsed a note for a neighbor and later 
was compelled to pay what would be a large sum 
even in these days, taking practically all he pos- 
sessed. Francis Marion was six years old at the 
breaking out of the Civil War, and had vivid 
memories of soldiers passing along the highway. 
The fact that the father's brother fought on one 
side and the mother's brother on the other com- 
plicated matters for the little family. On one 
occasion they were both at home on furlough at 
the same time. It is not difficult to imagine the 
interest with which the children listened to the 
thrilling accounts of the great conflict. Many 
times during these anxious and trying years the 
family was compelled to flee to the woods as news 
of approaching soldiers reached them. They were 
also terrorized by Morgan's raiders more than 
once. While John Eains was unable to take an 
active part in the war, he provided in a material 
way for several neighboring families where the 
father was at the front, and this without regard 
to the side on which they were fighting. 

The life of the family was of the simplest. The 
clothing was homespun, Francis Marion remember- 
ing distinctly his pride in his first suit of store 
clothes. He remembered, too, pouring tallow into 
molds for candles, and the tallow dip as well. 

John Rains' home was a Christian home. He 
was baptized by William Garratt in 1854, at the 



The Old Kentucky Home 15 

age of twenty-two. This was the year Francis 
Marion was born. This home was always the 
preacher 's home, many of the pioneers being enter- 
tained, and services conducted there, as was the 
custom of that day because of the scarcity of church 
buildings. The family removed to Missouri in 
1881, residing near Keytesville and Salisbury until 
the death of the father, which occurred at the 
home of his daughter, Ida, in Moberly, January 
2, 1914, at the ripe age of eighty-one. John Rains 
had a strong constitution, ready wit and piercing 
eyes, all of which he retained until a short time 
before his death. 

As may be imagined, the schools were most 
primitive. Dr. Carter Simpson, now of Coving- 
ton, Kentucky, writes as follows of his recollections 
of those early days : 

Our early and limited education was obtained in the 
interval from about 1865 to 1871, attending the district 
schools during the free school term covering a period of 
three months each year. Practically all the schools were 
taught in old dilapidated and abandoned dwellings or 
cabins, and in no case were those makeshifts supplied with 
chairs, seats, or desks. A substitute for seats was a log 
split, the flat side turned up and pins inserted in the 
round side, these serving the purpose of legs. We had 
no foot-rest or support for the back and it is a great wonder 
that the children who grew up under circumstances of this 
kind did not have curvature of the spine. Our writing 
desks consisted of a plank or board resting on two or 
three pins inserted into the wall of the building, and when 



16 Francis Marion Rains 

we took our lessons in penmanship we were compelled to 
stand. 

About 1870 we concluded that we had about mastered 
the English language. We were lucky enough to get 
teachers' certificates and started out to teach the young 
minds of our locality how to " shoot", as the saying went 
in those days. In the fall of 1871 W. K. Azbill came to 
our neighborhood and held a protracted meeting at my 
father's house at Heekin. During this meeting, Marion 
and I made the confession on the same night and within a 
day or two were immersed in Grassy Run Creek at a point 
where we had spent much of our time during our boyhood 
days. In fact, this was about the only place we had to 
take a bath during the warm season. Mr. Azbill was 
organizing Columbia Christian College at this time, and 
through his influence Marion and I, with several other 
boys of the neighborhood, matriculated in this school the 
latter part of the following December. All returned home 
at the close of the session the following spring except 
Marion. 

Prior to going to Columbia Mr. Rains had at- 
tended Harrisburg Academy, a small school near 
Owenton, Kentucky. 

Dr. Simpson also relates the following incident 
which Mr. Rains often recalled: 

Marion never let an opportunity pass without having 
something to say, and his improvement along this line was 
marked. I recall an incident that occurred at the Mt. 
Olivet Church when Marion was called upon to make a 
little talk, as they expressed it, at a social meeting and 
the crowd was so agreeably surprised at the improvement 
he had made in public speaking that the congratulations 
of the crowd were simply showered upon him. An old lady 
in the neighborhood, a shouting Methodist, whom he had 



The Old Kentucky Home 17 

known for years, happened to be present on this occasion 
and her admiration was so pronounced that she could not 
refrain from expressing her congratulations, and as a 
manifestation of the same she rushed up and embraced 
him. He said to me some time after this that he felt so 
embarrassed at the time that he was at a loss to know 
what to say or do. 

The first protracted meeting held by Mr. Rains 
was in the Mt. Pleasant Chnrch in Grant County. 
G. W. Marshall of Corinth, Kentucky, claims that 
it was the most successful revival ever held in the 
community. 



CHAPTER TWO 

COLLEGE DAYS 

B. F. Clay, who has been a successful pastor, 
secretary and evangelist, was a classmate of Mr. 
Rains in the College of the Bible, of Kentucky 
University (now Transylvania College), Lexing- 
ton, Kentucky, graduating at the same time. 

Mr. Clay writes as follows concerning the ex- 
perience of the four years thus spent in Lexing- 
ton, no doubt voicing the sentiments of Mr. Rains 
as well as himself: 

The Christian college is something of a melting pot 
when it gathers young men from different states, prov- 
inces and nations to train them for preachers of God's 
word. These boys come from every walk in life. They 
come with different degrees of culture, or it may be with 
no culture. Some from high schools and the small 
colleges with a fair degree of education, but there are 
others who come from the poorly equipped country school 
of the backwoods or the hill country where opportunities 
for acquiring even the rudiments of an education are very 
poor. At least this was true of many schools fifty years 
ago. 

Generally, these boys have one thing in common — a 
great moral and spiritual purpose in life. This with many 
of them is a passion. Such men usually find themselves 
when they are converted to Christ. It is there that they 
seriously ponder the meaning of life and mark out for 
themselves the course in life in which they can best serve 
God and man. At this time young men decide to preach 

18 



College Days 19 

the gospel of Christ. It is not to them a profession, nor 
do they think of it as a ministry. Worldly ambition has 
little or nothing to do with their decision to preach. There 
is not before them even a splendid vista of useful years 
leading up to an exalted station in life as the fruitage and 
reward of their toils and trials. They simply desire to 
serve God in the salvation of men, and as an education 
is necessary to do this, they find some way of entering 
college where they hope to fill their minds and hearts with 
such knowledge of the truth as will make them efficient 
servants of God. 

In the fall of 1874 a boy from Grant County, Kentucky, 
came to Lexington, and matriculated as a student in the 
College of the Bible. There was nothing about this boy 
to distinguish him from the dozens of other young men who 
had done this same thing. He was of medium size, weigh- 
ing about one hundred and twenty-four pounds, and so 
were others. He had dark hair and eyes, but in this respect 
he was like the majority. He was clad in very ordinary 
clothing, but this was characteristic of the student body 
in that particular college. His step was elastic and quick — 
so was it with all other boys who came to Lexington that 
fall. His education was limited — so was that of many 
others. He was "raw", and in this matter he had plenty 
of company — green, yes, but he knew it and made a joke 
of it, and likewise of the fellow who was disposed to look 
down upon him because he was not up on education or 
culture. 

In one particular he was unlike all others excepting 
one young man who was his roommate and bosom friend. 
Both hailed from Grant County. These two men were 
F. M. Rains and J. S. Kendrick. They were bubbling over 
with fun. Wit and humor were ever on tap in their rooms. 
If they had matriculated in any other department of the 
university you would never have thought of the ministry 
in connection with either of them, but both of them had 



20 Francis Marion Rains 

come to Lexington to prepare for preaching the gospel. 
However, underneath that wonderful flow of mirth in each 
of these men there ran a rich vein of intense earnestness 
and spiritual power. 

Each man had preached a few sermons and held some 
meetings in country churches. Rains had been strongly 
influenced by W. K. Azbill of Columbia Christian College, 
and by Dr. W. H. Daugherty of Corinth, Kentucky. Both of 
these men were great admirers of Professor J. W. Mc- 
Garvey, and Rains' presence at Lexington was in a large 
measure due to the influence of these two friends and ad- 
visers. His great desire to preach the gospel and his lack 
of equipment would have put him into some college, but 
it was McGarvey's reputation as a teacher of the Bible 
that turned his face toward Lexington. 

He was a good mixer from the first. The students all 
liked him, his fun and easy manner. However, he spent 
more time in jesting with his roommate than all the other 
students in the college. Neither he nor Kendrick was 
sought after because they were leaders in any other line 
than as fun-makers. This was their forte. They excelled 
all others in this regard. Everyone liked them but no one 
took them seriously. If a boy were "blue" or weary of 
study, he would slip off to their room for a visit where dull 
care and gloom were soon routed. "While Rains joked with 
the boys, memory fails to recall a single sting in aught 
that he ever said or did. He did not wound his fellow-men 
though he often used great plainness of speech. He loved 
them too well ever to ruffle their feelings. 

His method of study was quite different from that 
usually pursued by boys in college. Most students would 
sit quietly by their table with books before them, digging 
out their lessons. Rains and Kendrick spent much of their 
time reading aloud the printed page and would then ask 
each other questions as to the meaning of the author. It 
was a rapid fire, running discussion, interspersed with witty 



College Days 21 

remarks at the expense of the author or of each other. 
With them this method was effective, as their daily recita- 
tions compared favorably with the men in their respective 
classes. Mr. Rains was not regarded as a brilliant student. 
He, however, never failed on examinations — the dread of 
most boys. He was not a bookman, but in some way he 
gathered knowledge from every source. His contact with 
men seemed to be fruitful and when college days were 
ended he was well equipped for his life work. 

It was a rule of the faculty that students could have 
regular appointments for only two Sundays in the month. 
Mr. Rains preached somewhere on every Sunday he could 
get away from college. He generally preached for small 
country churches and for small pay, but he went away 
from college on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning 
with the air of a man who had the most important charge 
in the entire brotherhood. On the following Monday he 
came in as one who had fully measured up to the require- 
ments of the situation. 

On one occasion he preached on a controverted subject 
in a country church near Cincinnati, and did it with so 
much assurance and effectiveness that a reporter for one 
of the Cincinnati dailies who heard him, commented very 
sarcastically on the sermon and the preacher, and then re- 
quested him on his next trip to discuss a very curious and 
obscure description of a certain beast in the book of Revela- 
tion. His friend Kendrick read the comment, clipped it 
from the paper, and later sprung it on Rains in a debate 
in the college literary society. He was for the moment 
abashed, as he had not seen or heard of it before, but by 
the time he was to reply had fully recovered. His reply 
was to the effect that the reporter was a sectarian and his 
sermon got under his hide that night. He was out there 
courting a girl and not seeking either light or salvation. 
Then he told an experience of Kendrick 's that closed the 
debate in an uproar of laughter. 



22 Francis Marion Rains 

In the Philothean Society he preferred debating to any- 
other form of literary exercise. He loved action both of 
mind and body. In debating he -was at his best when his 
intimate friend, J. S. Kendrick, was his opponent. The hall 
of old Philothea was always a place of mirth whenever 
these two men were pitted against each other. 

His preaching at this time was not remarkable for the 
scholarship displayed. However, it made a good impres- 
sion. The people went to hear him and they returned home 
feeling better. He did men good both in the pulpit and 
in their homes. Very seldom could any of his flock sur- 
prise him with their wit and humor. One incident may be 
mentioned. He had preached on Sunday morning at Mor- 
tonsville an unusually good sermon. A brother stepped 
up to him after they were out of the house and said, 
"Brother Rains, that was a fine sermon. Yes, sir, it was 
a big one. Where did you get it?" As quick as a flash 
came the reply, "I reckon it was a good one. That was 
one of McGarvey's best." Yet it is doubtful if on that 
or any other occasion he actually plagiarized. He seldom 
ever used another man's language, word for word, and 
certain it is, he never attempted to imitate Professor Mc- 
Garvey, his beloved teacher, in either manner or language. 
If he used his thoughts he dressed them in his own style 
and illustrated them in his own unique way, which was well 
adapted to his audience. Rains preached unlike any other 
man; not because he did not admire and enjoy them but 
simply because he had his own inimitable style. He under- 
stood folk far better than most men of his years and ex- 
perience. 

Perhaps the day of all days in his college life was the 
commencement day in June, 1878. Thirteen boys were to 
graduate; no two of them were alike in any respect. Each 
was his best that day. The old Main Street Church was 
filled with a great audience of sympathizing friends and 
brethren. This was the first commencement. In a sense 



College Days 23 

professors and students were alike on trial. The great 
triumvirate, Graham, McGarvey and Grubbs, sat on the 
platform. Their work with these boys was finished. As 
they sat in the midst of this class there was on their 
faces an expression of confidence as to the outcome of the 
day. 

The class song, "We Are the Eeapers, " was sung by the 
thirteen men who composed the class, and one by one 
thirteen orations were delivered. Francis Marion Rains was 
in the middle of the program and gave a practical speech 
on ' ' The Power of Influence. ' ' When all were through 
speaking and the diplomas were presented the platform was 
a mass of flowers sent up by admiring friends to those 
who were finishing college and beginning life in a wider 
field. All were happy. One brother came up from the 
audience and greeted each graduate in a few words of 
hearty congratulations, and then walked up to Profes- 
sor McGarvey and said, "Brother McGarvey, aren't you 
proud of this day and these boys?" His reply will never 
be forgotten by those who were privileged to hear it. 
"No," he said, "I am not proud, but I am satisfied with 
these boys and grateful to God for His blessings upon our 
work. ' ' 

This ended the college life of F. M. Rains, who 
soon forged his way to the front as a leader of men and 
inspired the great church of God with new ideas of giv- 
ing and doing for the glory of His name. 

J. S. Kendrick, of whom Mr. Clay has spoken, 
grew up in the same neighborhood with Mr. Rains. 
His mother having died when he was seven years 
of age, and his father going to fight for his conn- 
try, the yonng lad fell into the hands of a hard 
master and worked in a blacksmith shop many 
times until midnight. The strong attachment 



24 Francis Marion Rains 

which was formed by these boys grew with years 
of their association in college. They embraced 
every opportunity to be together in after years 
when the duties and responsibilities of life were 
heavy for both of them. Just a week before the 
death of Mr. Kendrick, April 25, 1899, he was in 
the home of Mr. Rains, having gone to Cincinnati 
to consult a specialist. It had long been under- 
stood that when one died the other was to preach 
the funeral sermon, and this became one of the 
hardest tasks of Mr. Rains' life, for he had loved 
Julius Kendrick as a brother. He said of him, 
"As a preacher of the gospel he excelled. There 
were few better preachers among our people.' ' 
And again, "He was my personal friend for a third 
of a century. While we were yet boys, there grew 
up between us a strong friendship which was never 
marred. He was faithful in his attachments and 
the unusual sweetness and uniformity of his tem- 
per endeared him to all with whom he came in 
contact." 

Many times in the years that followed and just 
a short time before his own death, he spoke of his 
affection for Mr. Kendrick. 



CHAPTER THREE 

IN THE SUNFLOWER STATE 

Immediately after his graduation Mr. Rains was 
married June 13, 1878, to Miss Susie Field, a 
daughter of Dr. Sam Field of Columbia, Adams 
County, Kentucky, whom he had met while at 
school there. Miss Field was a beautiful woman 
with a keen intellect and received the A.B. degree 
in Columbia Christian College, occupying the chair 
of natural sciences the following year in that in- 
stitution. With nothing but good health, high 
hopes and determination, these young people 
established an academy at Corinth, Kentucky. 
This school was continued until 1881, Mr. Rains 
serving the church at Corinth also. From this 
school went out men who have become prominent 
lawyers, doctors, teachers and business men. 

Early in 1881, Mr. Rains conducted an evangel- 
istic meeting in Winfield, Kansas, which resulted 
in his removal to that place in June of that year. 
Here he entered upon his duties with the zest and 
enthusiasm which so characterized his entire life. 
Here, also, a grievous blow fell upon him in the 
sudden death of his young wife, June 8, 1882. 
Perhaps this had much to do with his resignation 
after a ministry of a year and a half. J. H. Bauser- 
man, at that time Secretary of the Kansas Board of 
Missions, wrote as follows concerning that period: 

25 



26 Francis Marion Rains 

We were at Winfield the 2nd Lord's Day in December, 
preaching both morning and evening. It will be remembered 
that this church has been for a year and a half under the 
pastoral care of F. M. Eains. Hence, we were not as- 
tonished to find this one of the most active congregations 
we have visited in the state. The membership is consider- 
able in numbers and all seem to have a mind to work. H. D. 
Gans and T. E. Bryan are the elders. The brethren have 
sold their house and bought a beautiful corner, centrally 
located, upon which to build. This is encouraging. But 
as an offset to this we were sorry to learn that Mr. Rains 
could not resist the temptation of the Leavenworth breth- 
ren, but removes there the first of the new year, and 
takes charge of the church. He is pushing matters in 
Winfield, however, banking the money subscribers have 
given for the new house, and says the building shall be in- 
sured before he changes his field of labor. The brethren 
give him up very reluctantly, but he promises them a good 
man to succeed him. 

During his pastorate there were fifty additions 
and a parsonage was bought and paid for. Evan- 
gelistic meetings were also held for other churches 
during this short period. 

Benjamin L. Smith was pastor of the church 
at Topeka, Kansas, from 1889 to 1895, and Mr. 
Rains was a member of that church for several 
years of the time, and was often heard to say that 
Mr. Smith was one of the best pastors in the broth- 
erhood. In 1895 when Mr. Smith was called to be 
secretary of the American Christian Missionary 
Society, that society and the Foreign Christian 
^Missionary Society had rooms in the Y. M. C. A. 
Building, and the two secretaries renewed the 



In the Sunflower State 27 

friendship so much enjoyed in Kansas and which 
continued firm and unbroken. Mr. Smith, after a 
long and successful pastorate in Moberly, Mis- 
souri, is now pastor of an institutional church 
in Rochester, New York, and contributes some 
reminiscences of interest: 

Mr. Rains moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, January 1, 
1883, and Mr. J. P. Bauserman, brother of J. H. Bauser- 
man, wrote soon after his coming: 

"In point of population, manufacturing 
and commercial interest, Leavenworth is the 
most important city in Kansas. A combination 
of circumstances conspired in the past to militate 
against the interests of the church here, chief of 
which was the resignation of J. B. McCleery as 
pastor, who commands the love and confidence of 
the entire membership. There is no discord among 
us. With one accord all are interested in the good 
work. We are confident that great good will be 
accomplished. There is a growing religious in- 
terest developing all over this young giant state 
of ours, and we are determined to keep abreast 
of this current of life. " 
Note the fierce competition between cities in those early 
boom days in Kansas. One did not need to prove to Kan- 
sas that it was the greatest state in the union — she admitted 
it. It had been "bleeding Kansas," but in the eighties 
it was "leading Kansas," and the fortunes lost in 
"booming" Kansas were only equalled by the money now 
being lost in oil speculations. Into this booming Kansas — 
and Leavenworth — came Mr. Rains, and the Leavenworth 
boom lost nothing by his coming. He remained in Leaven- 
worth one year, resigning the pastorate to accept the call 
as corresponding secretary and State evangelist of Kan- 



28 Francis Marion Rains 



Missions. He never again served as pastor, but passed 
from state secretary to secretary of Church Extension, 
then to the Standard Publishing Company; later becoming 
secretary of the Foreign Christian Missionary Society. 

His work as pastor was that of a young man full of 
zeal and energy from 1876 to 1884 — at Corinth, Kentucky, 
at Winfield, Kansas, and at Leavenworth, Kansas. 

The characteristics of these pastorates were three: 
First: Intensely busy with hard work, he was blessed at 
that time with robust health, youth, wonderful vitality and 
energy. He never shirked hard work, then or later. He 
endured hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and 
was a marvel to others for his intense labors for the work 
in hand. That spirit characterized his work as pastor, for 
there was not a lazy bone in his body. Second: His work 
was characterized by careful and skillful administration; 
guarding and advancing the affairs of the churches. Men- 
tion has already been made of the fruitful work done dur- 
ing the short pastorate at Winfield. At Leavenworth he 
remodeled the church building and made it far more 
attractive and convenient. Rains was a born administrator. 
Third: His preaching was strong and practical. He was 
not a mystic. Coming from Kentucky University and the 
Bible College, it was of course strongly doctrinal. How 
could it be otherwise? He believed and therefore spoke 
the words of strong conviction and power. Mr. Rains' 
preaching was never offensive. In manner he was always 
friendly to those who differed from him both in belief and 
practice. He quoted frequently Lincoln's adage, "God 
must have loved the common people; he made so many of 
them," and Rains loved too much to give unnecessary 
offense. 

Mr. Rains' humor was contagious and delightful. It is 
a rare and pleasant memory. I well remember his frequent 



In the Sunflower State 29 

quotation of the Limekiln Club, described in a series of 
humorous articles written in negro dialect which appeared 
in the Detroit Free Press. 

Thus my friend went forward to his destiny. He had 
the happiness of a sound body; the joy of full lungs, 
dreamless sleep, good appetite and busy days. This was 
the benediction of health. 

He had the joy of doing good work with body and brain, 
seeing the beauty of work in the way he met it, not as an 
enemy to be conquered before night, but as a friend who 
made him feel at evening that the day was well spent. 
This was the benediction of work. 

He had the happiness of an open mind, the delight in 
new truth. He was obedient to the highest callings of truth, 
to the heavenly vision of duty, and was blest with the best 
truth this world can give. This was the benediction of 
the open and growing mind. 

He had the happiness of the heart, the luxury of many 
friends. Being helpful to others he reckoned his gains by 
the friends whom he helped and was. always more ready 
to suffer than to inflict burdens. This was the benediction 
of friendship. 

He had the happiness of a contented mind, the grace 
of accepting life's courses without bitterness, its crowns 
without vanity. He greeted each day with a cheer for its 
opportunities; being able to say, "Jesus Christ and I are 
friends." He believed in the Father's house at the end 
of the road and looked forward to His welcoming smile. 
This was the benediction of the Christian. 

The following taken from a paper published in 
1883 shows what Mr. Eains thought of the re- 
sponsibility of the minister: 

It can be safely said that almost all our failures in 
church work are attributable to preachers. Do you know 



30 Francis Marion Rains 

of a church that has been properly taught and admonished 
to aid mission work? Let the preacher show the scriptural 
teaching on this subject and the honor in advancing such a 
cause, and the church will at once take hold and help. 

When the preacher urges the necessity and importance 
of prayer meetings and Sunday schools, the church will 
sustain both, and that well. If the preacher seeks to make 
both interesting — tries to make both instructive and edify- 
ing — the church will soon see the source of spiritual 
strength and follow the example of the preacher in en- 
hancing their interest and efficiency. 

What I have said of missions, prayer meetings and Sun- 
day schools is equally applicable to church work. A 
preacher who is merely a time server will be mortified to 
see his church the same. But if he shows a deep interest 
in all the departments of church work, so will his con- 
gregation. There is no excuse for a preacher not making 
his people zealous in every good work. This is his life work. 
He owes it to himself, to his brethren, to the world and to 
God. The responsibility of a preacher is measured by his 
opportunities. And this is true of all Christan workers. 
There is a great demand for preachers who are workers 
and instructors rather than drones and sermonizers. No 
good workers are looking for a field, but on the contrary 
the fields are looking for the workers. Of course, they 
must be men of acceptable ability as preachers and men 
of marked piety, but this is not all by at least a half. They 
are expected to lay out the work, appoint the workers, and 
then see that it is done. To do this does not require a 
great amount of brains but a large measure of that of 
which so many are destitute — common sense. My brothers 
in the ministiy, our responsibilities are great. Are we equal 
to them? 

Mr. Rains was called from the pastorate at 
Leavenworth after a year to be the State Secretary 



In the Sunflower State 31 

of Kansas. In 1901 after passing through Kansas 
on his way west, he wrote as follows in a letter to 
the church papers: 

When we reached Kansas I fell into a reminiscent mood. 
Twenty years ago I went from Corinth, Kentucky to Win- 
field, Kansas. In 1881 we had about 5,000 members in 
the state and less than twenty-five church buildings. We 
were rich, however, in a number of clear-headed, vigorous 
and consecrated preachers. The first state convention I 
attended was held in Salina. Pardee Butler, John Boggs, 
J. C. Sevey, R. L. Lotz, C. J. McKinney and J. W. Ran- 
dall were there. These have been called to their reward. 
These men, with their associates, laid the foundations broad 
and deep for an almost unparalleled growth in just a few 
years following. These were men of one thought, and that 
thought was the gospel. They were mighty men with 
strength equal to their convictions. They knew the mean- 
ing of hardships. These men preached the gospel in 
season and out of season. They helped to plant a type of 
churches that for purity of faith and life, for vigor and 
enterprise and for clearness and breadth of vision are 
probably not surpassed anywhere. These churches were 
born with a robust missionary spirit; missionary men and 
the missionary spirit gave them being. More churches in 
Kansas contribute annually for foreign missions than in 
some states where we have double the number of churches. 

For a time I served the churches as state secretary. It 
was a delightful work. There was a great influx of our 
people from other states. Churches and houses of worship 
multiplied rapidly. In little more than one year, forty-one 
new houses of worship were completed in the state. Here 
I saw and felt the need of a Church Extension Fund be- 
fore we had such a helpful agency. Alexander Elliot, now 
of Chillicothe, Missouri, was president of the Kansas State 
Board of Missions when I was elected. He said we should 



32 Francis Marion Rains 

plant churches in centers like Topeka, Lawrence, Wichita, 
Hutchinson, Wellington, etc. My first duty, therefore, was 
to go among our weak churches in the state and raise 
money to help do this work. 

One of the first places visited was Ft. Seott W. 
Chenault was there and he is still there. He gave me 
$500. This was a great help. The preacher of the church 
at that time was opposed to securing money from the church 
for missions. He has dropped out of sight long since. Any 
preacher that opposes missions or proves indifferent is 
doomed. He may shine as a star of the first magnitude 
for a time but his light will go out. Missions is the rock 
on which so many preachers make shipwrecks of their use- 
fulness. It requires labor and tact to educate a church in 
missions. 

To show the diversified character of the work of 
the state secretary and evangelist at that time, as 
well as the appreciation of the churches, we give 
the following, taken from one of the church papers : 

F. M. Rains, State Evangelist of Kansas, raises money 
to employ preachers, raises money to build churches, takes 
pledges for missionary work, helps the weak churches, stirs 
up the strong churches, fosters the Sunday school work, 
helps the Christian Woman's Board of Missions, organizes 
churches and district work and keeps everybody in a good 
humor and at work. 

Whiting — F. M. Rains came to our place and preached 
to a good audience. His sermons were eminently prae:i ::."-. 
thoughtful and instructive, and were delivered in a style to 
make a lively and lasting impression upon the hearer. 

We want to tell Mr. Rains that he has done us a great 
and lasting good, not only by his excellent sermons but by 
his social intercourse as well, for he is as much of a Bueeeaa 
socially as otherwise. We did not do near as much for Mr. 



In the Sunflower State 33 

Rains as he did for us, but we think it can be truthfully- 
said that we did what we could. 

The brethren, so far as I know, are abundantly satis- 
fied with our state evangelist and think that he is pe- 
culiarly fitted for the position which he occupies. I want 
to say to the preachers of Kansas that if you want to feel 
good, get Mr. Rains to come and see you and your church. 
He has helped me. I think he can do for every congrega- 
tion what he has done for us. With F. M. Rains at the 
helm, the state work will boom. — J. W. Mitchell. 

Arkansas City, Kansas, March 9, 1886. — We had 
with us the first Lord's Day in March, F. M. Rains, our 
State Evangelist. He came among us as the early sunbeam 
of spring, gladdening all our hearts by his cheerful, Chris- 
tian manliness and by his plain, practical way of present- 
ing the state work. Mr. Rains possesses and exercises that 
happy faculty of cementing ties between preacher and con- 
gregation. We feel strengthened by his visit in Kansas, 
and hope he may continue his good work until all Christ's 
churches in Kansas may be as one family united together 
by strong ties. A visit from Mr. Rains is a safe invest- 
ment.— J. P. Witt. 

Mr. Rains was in Kansas during the fight for 
prohibition of the liquor traffic in that state, and 
on the platform, in the press and wherever possible 
used his energy, enthusiasm and influence to make 
that state dry. It was always a source of satis- 
faction to him to remember that he had even a 
small part in that task, and his last days were 
made happier because of the knowledge that the 
whole country had followed the example of Kansas 
in this respect. 

In 1884, Mr. Rains was married to Miss Lovie 



34 



Ft 



:> My-c-. Raini 



■ Mr. Ba 
f .Missions. 



Boyd, a graduate ;: the N._ . 
dale, Dlinois. She was a very 
woman and a great help 
She was much interestec 
tian Woman's Boai 

_ inristian Woman's B 
as follow mneerning her 



She vrs; :a: Aaziiiary Pre: 
leader. She als: held the office 
later of State Secretary. Atthon 

and her responsi:::ii:ie: ah: ::::. 
whole-hearted devoticr^. ser ving 
weakness -erf aresshag hari a: : 
gone to her home and found hea 
7^: vri:h ~:;::-^ materia: La harr 
or writing to urge our uninteresi 
ticipation in our women's missi 
once finding her in great pain 
Whea I askei. her :he :a\ise :f 
• ■ 1-lj hihssi:a 3aaa rae: wi:h : 
die: 0:7s reraaiaei a::e: :ae : 
that he had decided to give his 1 
way of becoming a minister of 
said, after she had told me of 
view ' ' If my son should live to i 
how happy I would be! " 



Airs. Helen E. 
1 President of 



K; 



iisaiia 3:-.al 
^•aaaa.re: aai 
~as ieii:a:e 
•Tr her ~::k 
en rain aai 
s I 



r 



e 1 s-rsrers :: a a.a.; r ar- 
:aarv — ::k. I reraeraher 
ye: ~::h a riiiir: :a:e. 
he: evident joy, she said: 
ne today and one of my 
: ii e : 5 ha i z :ae. :: :eii rae 
Lfe :: Car:;: iaa :he sre:iai 
the gospeL" <4 Car! sne 
:he :eaieri7 sa:rea ha:er- 
: ieii:a:e has are :: ■.-: :i. 



Airs. Eains was 



After locating in 
instrumer.:al in orgs 

tian VT:raaa.'s B 
nut Hills Church ■:: that city. 

To this union were born two sons and a dausrh.- 



AV< 



In the Sunflower State 35 

ter: Ernest Errett, who is in the fire insurance 
business in Oklahoma City, and has a son, Francis 
Marion, eleven years old; Paul Boyd, an ordained 
minister, for several years Northern District Sec- 
retary of Religious Education in connection with 
the American Christian Missionary Society, and 
later the United Christian Missionary Society, now 
Director of Religious Work of the Y. M. C. A. in 
Denver, Colorado. Paul has a son, Gregg Bedford, 
aged three, and a daughter, Marian Mize, named 
for her two grandfathers and now a year and a 
half old. The daughter, Elva, who was the second 
child, died at the age of ten, two and a half years 
after the death of her mother, which occurred April 
14, 1897. These deaths, following anxious and 
loving care of months, left their mark upon Mr. 
Rains, but with singleness of purpose he hid his 
grief with his ever ready smile and took up the 
burdens and responsibilities of the work to which 
he had dedicated his life. 

While organizing and dedicating churches in 
Kansas as State Secretary, Mr. Rains realized the 
great need of a Church Extension Fund. G. W. 
Muckley gives the following account of his call 
to this work and something of what was accom- 
plished during his term of service with that board : 

F. M. Rains was the pioneer in our Church Extension 
work. He really started the work. It is true, that in the 
National Convention at Cincinnati, in 1883, a fund was 
started with a few subscriptions which brought a cash sum 
of $4,711.83 in three years. However, at the National 



36 Francis Marion Rains 

Convention held in Kansas City, in 1886, the real forward 
movement began. 

A committee acted promptly in securing a secretary, 
and in October, 1887, F. M. Rains, of Topeka, Kansas, be- 
came the Secretary of the Board of Church Extension. 
By his energy and untiring devotion, the receipts to the 
fund were increased by over $7,000. 

The Committee had been doing most diligent work, but 
its business had not been to make appeals for money to 
build up the fund. Up to October, 1887, the four years' 
work of the Committee showed that total collections for 
the fund amounted to $5,648.83, and twelve loans had been 
made in nine different states. 

The National Convention, which was held in Spring- 
field, Illinois, in October, 1888, was so pleased with the re- 
sults of a special secretary of this fund, and was so im- 
pressed with the growing demands of the work, that it 
recommended the creation of a separate Board of Church 
Extension, to be elected annually, which should have en- 
tire charge of the fund. Accordingly, Article VII of the 
Constitution of the American Christian Missionary Society 
was enacted which provided for the Board of Church Ex- 
tension of that society. 

At that Convention, $10,662.80 was turned over to the 
Board of Church Extension, whose headquarters were 
placed in Kansas City, Missouri. This creation of a 
separate Board of Church Extension, located in the heart 
of our Brotherhood, where most of the funds would be 
needed in loans to help new mission churches secure their 
first church homes, was the promotional work of F. M. 
Rains. His idea was that through a separate board more 
emphasis could be put upon this v^ry necessary work. The 
wisdom of this has been proved through the years. Had 
we not thus emphasized this work, we would not have this 
fund of $2,000,000 today. 

In February, 1889, Mr. Rains secured a $5,000 Name 



In the Sunflower State 37 

Fund from Mr. F. M. Drake, and in the following October 
of 1889, the Standard Publishing Company Fund was also 
secured by him. The Name Fund idea grew until now there 
are thirty- four such funds, which by going and return- 
ing, have built nine hundred and eighty-seven churches. 

A Name Fund consists of $5,000. All interest at four 
per cent is added. This fund compounds itself semian- 
nually, since interest is paid semiannually by the borrow- 
ing churches. Each Name Fund is kept in a separate ac- 
count showing the donor what his fund is doing every 
year and through all the years. Thus the F. M. Drake 
Fund has built ninety-three churches since 1889. This 
Name Fund idea originated in the mind of Mr. Rains and 
he secured three such funds during his secretaryship. 

In the Convention of October, 1890, Mr. Rains recom- 
mended that the Board take annuities at six per cent from 
people fifty years of age or more. Thus began the An- 
nuity feature of our organized work, which has been so 
helpful to all departments. 

The Board of Church Extension alone has $659,000 in 
its Annuity Fund and this has aided in the erection of three 
hundred and eighty-two churches. The beauty of the An- 
nuity Plan is that a man can administer upon his own 
estate and see his money working while he is alive. At the 
same time, it is also earning him an income at six per cent 
with no loss and no taxes. 

Mr. Rains' secretaryship lasted three years, but during 
that time he so impressed our brethren with the Church 
Extension idea and with his promotional ideas, that his 
name will always be remembered in connection with this 
work which has grown so satisfactorily during thirty-three 
years. 

In the fall of 1890 we find items in The Chris- 
tian-Evangelist : 



38 Francis Marion Bains 

There will be sincere regret on all hands that Mr. 
Rains gives up the work of Church Extension. No one 
could have done a better work than he has done. 

F. M. Rains, the successful pusher of the Extension 
Fund to its present triumphs, has resigned his secretary- 
ship to rest from such arduous labors. It may be no secret 
that he will work in the interest of one of our church's 
great publishing houses. 

Mr. Rains was a devoted admirer of Isaac Errett 
and did field work for the Standard Publishing 
Company for a time. During this period he had 
a severe attack of typhoid fever, being unconscious 
for thirty days. It was thought that he could 
not get well, but careful nursing, wise medical 
treatment and the prayers of his friends availed 
much, and from a slender man of one hundred and 
twenty-four pounds he came to be a man of large 
physique weighing as much as one hundred and 
eighty-nine pounds, with a strong constitution 
which served him well in the strenuous work of 
his after life. 

In 1891 he was called to Cincinnati as president 
of the Standard Publishing Company, which posi- 
tion he held for two years. 

In leaving the work of the Church Extension 
Board, Mr. Rains was naturally anxious as to his 
successor. It was natural, too, that he should con- 
sult Isaac Errett about the matter. Mr. Errett 
at once suggested G. W. Muckley, who had done a 
fine piece of work at the Fergus Street Church 
(now Northside), Cincinnati. It may be said 



In the Sunflower State 39 

that Mr. Muckley was perhaps the first minister 
among the Disciples of Christ to put a religious 
paper in every home of his congregation, the 
church board paying for those who felt unable to 
subscribe for themselves. That Mr. Muckley has 
been eminently successful in his work as secretary 
is evidenced by the fact that the Church Extension 
fund has now reached nearly $2,000,000. 



CHAPTER FOUR 

THE FOREIGN CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY 

While serving as President of the Standard Pub- 
lishing Company, Mr. Rains was elected a member 
of the executive committee of the Foreign Christian 
Missionary Society in 1892, succeeding ex-Gov- 
ernor Bishop, who had just died, as Vice-President. 
Mr. Rains had planned to leave the organization 
work that he might lead a quieter life and spend 
more time with his family. However, he realized 
the great need for another secretary of the Foreign 
Society. The executive committee had been cor- 
responding with several men with a view to taking 
the work, but had been unsuccessful. A. McLean, 
who was the first secretary to give his whole time 
to the work, had labored alone for eleven years. 
The receipts had grown to over $58,000, and there 
were sixty-five missionaries in the various fields. 
Having once accepted the work as Financial Sec- 
retary in 1893, Mr. Rains seemed to have adopted 
as his motto, "This one thing I do," and for 
twenty-six years gave every ounce of his strength 
and dynamic energy to the extension of the King- 
dom to the uttermost parts of the earth. In 1897 
he became Treasurer and in 1900 was elected Cor- 

40 




Taken in 1910 at Cincinnati just before 

leaving for a world wide visit to 

our mission stations 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 41 

responding Secretary, but whatever his title, his 
duties were practically the same. 

Mr. Eains, as a student in the Bible College at 
Lexington, had attended the national convention 
in Cincinnati at the organization of the Christian 
Woman's Board of Missions, in 1874, and was also 
present at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1875 when the 
Foreign Christian Missionary Society was organ- 
ized. He and A. McLean were interested observers 
of all that transpired, neither having any idea of 
the important place they were to fill in the future 
work of that society. 

The first mention of his name in the minutes of 
the national convention is in connection with a 
report of the Committee on Obituaries of which he 
was a member in 1887. This was the convention 
at which he was elected Secretary of the Church 
Extension Board. This year he became a Life 
Member of the Foreign Christian Missionary 
Society, and later on a Life Director, taking special 
pleasure, by his contributions from year to year, 
in making wise and influential pastors Life Di- 
rectors also. 

Mr. Eains was on a committee in Louisville in 
1889, looking toward a plan for congregational 
contributions, at which time it was recommended 
that the offering for foreign missions be taken 
the first Sunday in March, instead of two offer- 
ings as formerly, the first Sunday in March and 
the first Sunday in September. The first Sunday 



42 Francis Marion Rains 

in March came to be the high day in Mr. Rains' 
life. His time, thought and energy, without stint, 
were given that this offering might be a success. 
How anxiously he scanned the weather reports, 
and how eagerly he watched for the reports to 
come in ! In those early days, when there was no 
church budget and little conscience on the subject 
of missions, if the special day was not observed, 
the offering was apt not to be taken at all. 

In the early national conventions it was a custom 
to raise money from the platform. In The Chris- 
tian-Evangelisi we find the following in the report 
of the convention at Springfield, Illinois, in 1888 : 

F. M. Eains is a prince of solicitors. When he appears 

before an audience it is accepted as an irresistible demand 

for the people present to turn their pockets inside out. 
***** 

F. M. Rains, ' ' God 's beggar, ' ; never misses a convention 
unless he is sick, and he is becoming an indispensable fac- 
tor in raising funds. He has made it a study and knows 
how to do that kind of work. His talent was brought into 
requisition more than once and he never fails to respond 
and to make others respond. 

As early as 1891 he was a member of a committee 
to confer with similar societies looking toward 
closer unification of the work of the different 
boards. The first record which can be found of his 
appearance on the program of a national conven- 
tion is in 1891 while still in Kansas, and in 1892 
he spoke of "Importance of Pre- Announcement of 
Offerings. ' ' 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 43 

We publish a note from Mr. McLean written for 
The Christian-Evangelist, as well as an editorial 
comment : 

The Foreign Society has secured the services of F. M. 
Rains, who will enter upon his work September 1. He will 
be financial secretary, thus leaving the present secretary 
free to give more attention to the fields and editorial work 
on the Missionary Intelligencer. The new secretary is as 
well known as any man in the brotherhood. He has dem- 
onstrated his fitness for this position. He will do the 
society good service. Under his wise management and en- 
thusiastic and energetic driving it is confidently believed 
that the receipts will increase by leaps and bounds, and 
that the society will enter upon an era of unexampled 
prosperity. 

***** 

The new departure of the Foreign Society takes the 
hustling Rains from the Standard Publishing Company and 
makes him financial secretary. This is a wise move and the 
Foreign Society is to be congratulated in securing the 
services of so competent and so well known a man as Mr. 
Rains. He no doubt will be able to turn into the treasury 
annually several thousand dollars. 

The calling of a new secretary was a venture 
of faith, but was fully justified by the steady 
increase of receipts. Many years he earned enough 
through the dedication of churches to pay his en- 
tire salary. 

To show the strenuous life he led from the be- 
ginning of his secretaryship we give the schedule 
of dedications for a few months as it appeared in 
the Intelligencer : 



44 Francis Marion Rains 

1893 

October — Butler, Missouri 

Hedrick, Iowa 

Lincoln, Nebraska 

Sadieville, Kentucky 

Oskaloosa, Iowa 
November — Prairie City, Iowa 

Odessa, Missouri 

Columbia, Missouri 
December — Raritan, Illinois 

Athens, Ohio 

Cincinnati (Fergus Street), Ohio 

Shelbyville, Missouri 

Maryville, Missouri 

1894 
January — Augusta, Kansas 

Delavan, Illinois 

Osceola, Iowa 

Rushville, Indiana 

Washington, Pennsylvania 
February — Frankford, Missouri 

We note that he raised $42,000 in the dedications 
in October, addressed three state conventions, and 
delivered six other addresses. 

That this strenuous program was continued al- 
most to the end, is shown in the following extracts 
from letters to Mrs. Rains. 

Longview, Texas. 

May 13, 1912. 

A trainload of strawberries was ditched on our track 

so that we had to go more than 100 miles around to go 

at all. Here we are, six hours late. Will not get into 

Houston until Tuesday morning, just in time to speak, 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 45 

if then, and no rest before speaking. See? Well, such 
is the lot of a "traveling man." 

Hope you had a good Sunday. Mine was lonely. It 
is a great thing to be able to be at church every Sunday. 

Hope Paul came out all O. K. at Latonia. Tell him I 
was thinking of him. 

I will leave Houston for home next Friday morning. 
If I could go by way of New Orleans would start Thurs- 
day night after speaking, but the high water over that way 
will not permit. 

It is going to be a busy week with me. The folks may 
eat me up. Affectionately, your husband, 

F. M. Rains. 

Owen Sound, Ontario. 
May 30, 1913. 
It is eleven o 'clock at night, am just going to bed. Had 
a hard, busy day. 

I get up at 4:30 tomorrow to get a train and go by way 
of Toronto and Buffalo to Ashland, Ohio, where I am to be 
on Sunday. 

Hopkins (Robert) has been good to me and helped me 
much. He is a dear man. Wish I could see you and Paul. 

Omaha, Nebraska. 
September 17, 1918. 

Had a great day in Boston on Sunday. They gave me 
a fine reception. Left Boston at 4:45 Sunday afternoon 
and reached here at 4:00 P. M. It was a long trip but 
the trains were good. 

I spoke in Boston three times. Have invitations to 
visit a number of churches in New England. 

Paul and Clara were at the train to meet me and are 
looking well. Her supper tonight was simply fine. She is 
a Number One cook and housekeeper. I am delighted with 
her. 

Say, the news from France is great and no mistake 



46 Francis Marion Rains 

Many have written concerning the beautiful 
friendship which existed between Mr. McLean and 
Mr. Rains during all the years of their close asso- 
ciation. Each recognized the ability of the other 
in his line of work and from the beginning they 
were true yokefellows. There was no question of 
seniority, and this principle obtained as other men 
joined them in the work from time to time, no 
doubt accounting for the harmony which always 
prevailed in the Foreign Christian Missionary So- 
ciety. 

The convention of 1894, recognizing the need of 
a first-hand knowledge of the fields on the part of 
the secretaries and wishing also to show the ap- 
preciation of the Brotherhood for the self-sacrific- 
ing labors of Mr. McLean, recommended that he 
spend a year visiting the mission fields. Accord- 
ingly, he left America in the summer of 1895, re- 
turning in August of the following year. Mr. 
Rains cheerfully agreed to carry the burdens and 
responsibilities of the work in his absence. That 
he did good service is shown by the fact that the 
receipts showed a marked increase over the pre- 
ceding year. In addition to the office work he at- 
tended conventions and dedicated a number of 
churches. 

In 1898 Mr. Rains, accompanied by S. M. Cooper 
of Cincinnati, Treasurer at that time of the 
Foreign Society, and a member of the Executive 
Committee, visited Cuba with a view to opening 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 47 

work there. Shortly afterward a station was 
opened in Havana. 

In July, 1898, Mr. Rains was married to Miss 
Rose Stephens of Cincinnati, formerly of Paris, 
Kentucky. The family consisted of Ernest, thir- 
teen years of age ; Elva, nine ; and Paul, three and 
a half. Mention has been made of the death of 
Elva at the age of ten. Mr. Rains' home was his 
castle, and his happiest hours were spent there. 
Nevertheless, no call of the work was unheeded and 
nearly every Sunday was spent away from home, 
while frequently he was absent for weeks at a time. 

Mr. Rains suffered a stroke of facial paralysis 
in February, 1900, from which he was months in 
recovering. In spite of this affliction, he insisted 
on going to Kansas City through a severe snow 
storm when all wires were down and street cars 
had stopped running, to conduct a Silver Jubilee 
service, of which the following account is given : 

With no disparagement of the contribution of others 
the deepest and most abiding inspiration came from the 
addresses of F. M. Rains and G. L. Wharton. Mr. Rains 
came to us though his physician had ordered him to give 
up his work, and with Spartan heroism took up the burden 
of his work. His presence under such conditions stirred 
all hearts. We felt like we had not only heroes and 
martyrs in the foreign field but hero and martyr stuff too in 
our consecrated secretary. His address was one of fervor 
and of power, and the chords of the heroic in us all, though 
perchance long slumbering, were touched to answering 
nobleness. 



48 Francis Marion Rains 

In 1903, enroute to England, Norway and Den- 
mark to visit and encourage the churches in those 
places, Mr. Rains stopped off at Buffalo to attend 
the state convention. Stephen J. Corey was at 
that time State Secretary. As he made his report 
in the convention and presented some plans for the 
work, Mr. Rains was impressed with his evident 
ability and resourcefulness, and wrote Mr. McLean 
regarding the possibility of securing him as a sec- 
retary for the foreign work. At the national con- 
vention in 1904 Mr. Corey was elected Correspond- 
ing Secretary. In the nearly eighteen years which 
have passed he has endeared himself to the entire 
brotherhood and demonstrated the wisdom of the 
choice. No one now living could be better fitted 
to write of Mr. Rains in his relation to the Foreign 
Christian Missionary Society. Mr. Corey con- 
tributes the following: 

For more than a quarter of a century F. M. 
Rains served as Secretary of the Foreign Christian 
Missionary Society. He came to the work in 1893 
and until a short time before his death, October 
24, 1919, he was bearing the burdens of the foreign 
work which he loved so well. The only breaks in 
his direct secretarial work during this long period 
of twenty-six years were the brief intervals which 
he spent with Mrs. Rains in visiting various mis- 
sion fields. Even during these journeys he was 
very busy but with different phases of the mis- 
sionary task. While at home his time was almost 






The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 49 

entirely absorbed with promotional work which 
had to do with the income of the Society. He and 
Mrs. Rains went to the Orient in 1901 and again 
in 1910. The first visit was to China and Japan 
only, but on the second visit, nine years later, he 
visited China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Aus- 
tralia and India. It was the purpose of Mr. Rains 
on this journey to encircle the globe, but he was 
taken ill while in the East and the necessity of 
hurrying home brought them back by way of 
the Pacific. In 1903, in company with Mrs. Rains, 
he went to Norway, Sweden and Denmark, visiting 
the work of the Society and groups of Disciples in 
these countries. During this journey he also 
visited our churches in England and gave them 
much encouragement. In 1915 a short journey 
was made to Cuba to inspect the missionary work 
being carried on at that time in the island. 

It is difficult for a biographer to know what to 
say in a brief chapter with regard to Mr. Rains 
and his work with the Foreign Society. The writer 
was associated with him for almost fifteen years in 
this work. Perhaps a word concerning the inter- 
view with Mr. Rains which led to the writer's as- 
sociation with him in the work will give some in- 
sight with regard to his attitude toward his asso- 
ciates. 

It was at the time of the St. Louis National 
Convention in 1904. Mr. Rains took me aside and 
after we had eaten together at a simple restaurant, 



50 Francis Marion Rains 

he pushed back his chair and broached the subject 
of giving my life to the work of foreign missions 
as a secretary. After a conference, in which the 
burdens and responsibilities of the work were 
quite as thoroughly set forth as its appeal and 
compensations, Mr. Rains said in his characteristic 
way, ' ' My friend, if you come with us you will be 
a secretary, not an assistant or associate secretary, 
and we will work together with equal responsibility 
and equal voice. We are not much on personal 
rights or prerogatives in the foreign office." The 
words "equality" and "responsibility" were 
strikingly characteristic of his work and the work 
of his associates as they toiled together. He was 
a man who knew how to give and take, was never 
afraid of a hard task and expected no one else 
to be afraid of one. There was no shirking of 
burdens on his part and he inspired the same 
courageous attitude in others. Mr. Rains believed 
in each man having his job well defined, and mak- 
ing good in that particular task. His associates 
always looked upon him as a man of direct action. 
He was always the Christian gentleman, although 
not a diplomat with any "pussy foot" tendencies. 
His conferences and persuasive interviews were 
more of the "shirt sleeve" type where sentences 
were short and crisp, and laughter and banter 
mixed with challenge. Decisive, ready-to-use con- 
clusions were reached in their meetings. Mr. Rains, 
although an admirable team-mate, was what one 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 51 

would term an effective individualist in his work 
and he granted everyone else the same privi- 
lege in his particular task. The modern " agenda" 
or ' ' docket ' ' for a committee meeting was unknown. 
A few penciled notes on the back of an envelope 
drawn from Mr. Rains' inside coat pocket, or a 
similar notation from Mr. McLean's ever present 
memorandum book, would furnish the line of 
thought for the evening. Many an important de- 
cision was reached after animated and sometimes 
heated discussion. Personal opinions were strongly 
stated, Mr. Rains never hesitating to set forth 
his own thinking in the most clear and convincing 
way. However, the final conclusion had no refer- 
ence to differences of opinion. After an important 
matter had been talked through and thoroughly 
and a majority of the company was agreed, the 
matter was settled. You would never find Mr. 
Rains, after he had accepted such a decision, re- 
ferring to any difference of opinion he might have 
had on the subject. These conferences, which had 
so much bearing on the policies and plans of the 
Society, were purely democratic and a decision 
once reached was the unanimous decision of all. 
The team work of Mr. McLean and Mr. Rains was 
very beautiful on any point of policy, even though 
the process of getting harnessed together some- 
times took considerable discussion. 

F. M. Rains was the driving power of the Foreign 
Christian Missionary Society. On the other hand, 



52 Francis Marion Rains 

Mr. McLean was the quiet, studious writer and 
prophet of missionary ideals for our people. Mr. 
Rains was distinctly the dynamo that made the 
wheels go around in the office and in the home base 
progress of the work. From the time he entered 
the office early in the morning until he closed his 
desk everything about him was all atingle with 
effort. The stenographers felt it, the bookkeepers 
and office girls were alive to it, and his associates 
in secretarial work always felt the strong working 
pulse of his presence. He always worked at high 
tension and with tremendous energy. There was 
a healthy contagion about his effort. He brought 
a certain breeze and stimulus into the office with 
him. One instantly straightened up and squared 
his shoulders when Mr. Rains passed by in the en- 
thusiasm of his toil. Sometimes during the day 
there might be something of a good-natured clash, 
or perhaps even an explosion, but it was all soon 
forgotten in the speeding up of the missionary 
train. The occasional jars and bumps, with starts 
and stops, had no lasting effect, for Mr. Rains' 
hand was always on the throttle, and "full steam 
ahead" was his constant motto. Few men could 
turn off more work than he could. He always 
had a dozen irons in the fire. Many times when 
Mr. McLean and the others would be away for 
months, holding rallies and trying to educate the 
people on the field, Mr. Rains would be alone 
at the office. The whole burden of promotional 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 53 

and administrative work would be upon his 
shoulders. It is difficult to know how he ac- 
complished so much, for his health was not the 
best during the last ten years of his service. When 
left alone, as we have mentioned above, he carried 
on all the correspondence both at home and abroad, 
edited the Missionary Intelligencer once a month, 
got out the quarterly issue of the Missionary Voice 
which was then published, got out all the printed 
circulars for the March offering, besides the 
numerous other pieces of literature that went with 
these, usually edited a racy and pungent issue of 
the March Offering Manual for the preachers, 
wrote special articles for the papers, even down to 
the little church papers published by the local con- 
gregations, worked on annuities and personal gifts, 
got up programs and sermon outlines for the March 
offering, looked after the advertising in the papers ; 
and all of these things were seen to besides the 
daily round of office duties and the handling of 
the daily mail which touched on so many subjects. 
Mr. Rains was the outstanding financial genius of 
his day among our people. He could have been 
a successful banker, railroad president or the head 
of some great corporation. He came to the Society 
in its infancy when the receipts were $58,355 a 
year. When he died, after twenty-six years of 
effort, the income was $630,000 a year. Mir. 
McLean did not have to do so much with the finan- 
cial side of the work. He taught the people to 



54 Francis Marion Rains 

give, as he incessantly wrote, spoke among the 
brethren everywhere, and held missionary rallies 
all over the country, but when it came to raising 
money from headquarters this task was largely left 
to Mr. Rains. The Foreign Society became famous 
because of its wide-awake and ingenious plans in 
enlisting the interest of the people for missionary 
giving. There was hardly a missionary society in 
the country which did not profit from these wide- 
awake and original ideas. Nearly all the special 
plans of the society for raising missionary money 
came out of the fertile mind and heart of F. M. 
Eains. Over these plans he thought and prayed 
and brooded until they were almost like his 
children. He introduced the Annuity plan among 
our people and the Living Link plan whereby a 
local church supports its own missionary. Chil- 
dren's Day, while in existence before he came to 
the Society, grew into a real day of vast significance 
under his direction. He made the March offering 
stand out as a vital institution among the churches. 
Mr. Rains introduced the Birthday Box in the 
Sunday school for missionary giving. One of his 
unique contributions to missionary endeavor was 
the "circular." He always studied advertising 
journals and business magazines and he believed 
that a well constructed and printed circular was 
the finest bit of missionary information and in- 
spiration possible. As the March offering 
approached, these circulars became more pointed 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 55 

and more replete with striking sentences, strong 
appeals and gripping illustrations. He used to 
say, "I like to spend a week soaking in a 
circular." He would divide such a production 
as a great preacher divides his sermon. I have 
heard numbers of our ministers say that the cir- 
culars of Mr. Rains did more to convert them to 
the missionary ideal and lift their sense of mis- 
sionary responsibility than anything else which 
ever came into their lives. The day for such litera- 
ture is probably past. Our plans have changed 
in this regard, but one cannot help admiring the 
genius of this good man as he stirred the ministers 
and the Sunday school superintendents with these 
vital, burning messages. How he reveled in these 
plans of promotion! What inventive genius he 
displayed through these avenues! Mr. Rains was 
a great man to set a financial goal for the society 
which he would call a watchword for the year and 
then, by writing letters, getting notes and articles 
in the papers, sending out circulars and speaking 
at conventions, he would press the people on toward 
that goal. I have often heard him say that, like 
Jay Gould, he had two purposes in mind ; one was 
to cut down expenditures and the other to increase 
receipts. However, he never hesitated at a worthy 
expenditure and was always willing to launch a 
new plan if he felt it was what the people needed. 
The fact that the majority of our churches gave 
nothing to missions was almost a nightmare to him. 



56 Francis Marion Rains 

In season and out of season, by literature, by dia- 
grams, by letters and by personal appeal he was 
ever endeavoring to enlist these cold and indif- 
ferent churches. He felt that if even a small offer- 
ing could once be secured from the congregations, 
there was hope of their forming a regular habit. 

He was not enamored of the modern committee 
and its slow processes in getting into operation. 
He believed in taking hold of a problem quickly 
and directly and dealing with it in the most ex- 
peditious fashion. 

Mr. Rains' method was that of direct contact 
with the churches. The Every Member Canvass 
had not come into large vogue during his active 
service and his main emphasis was on special days 
and offerings, in which he was a real genius. He 
was not much given to "conferences" and felt 
that on many occasions they were time consumers. 
He thought such meetings had little place during 
"business hours," but was always willing to ac- 
cord a conference a full evening after working 
hours, when there was leisure for thought and one 
could be away from the stress and strain of office 
duties. The meetings of this kind in which he 
delighted were in his own home. In the early days, 
these were usually held every two weeks or so when 
Mr. McLean, Mr. Plopper, (the Treasurer), and I 
would go over with him the many problems of the 
work and do our planning for the future. Later, 
when A. E. Cory, R. A. Doan, Bert Wilson and 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 57 

finally C. M. Yocum had joined us and our group 
was larger, these conferences were often held at the 
office. The fireside meetings were times of delight- 
ful fellowship as well as earnest discussion, because 
Mr. Rains' home was always ideal in its friendly 
atmosphere and fine environment. "While Mrs. 
Rains did not usually join in the discussions con- 
cerning the work, she was always nearby to help 
settle any mooted question, give a fine bit of judg- 
ment when asked, and to round up the evening 
with a cup of tea and some other refreshments in 
a jolly half hour spent around the family table. 
These meetings often extended until midnight. 

Mr. Rains was a man of singleness of purpose. 
He lived and prayed and read and spoke and wrote 
for world-wide missions. There were no side issues 
with him. His whole life was given to his task. 
He burned his strength out and shortened his life 
in doing this one thing. Much has been said about 
his dedication of churches, and he was one of the 
greatest church dedicators America ever knew. No 
financial situation would stop him and nearly one 
thousand church buildings in America bear testi- 
mony to his gift as a money raiser. However, his 
dedication of churches was a means to an end. 
What he received financially in that type of work 
always applied through the missionary society on 
his salary. He enjoyed this type of service but 
said again and again that he would not be doing it 
at all if it were not for the opportunity which it 



58 Francis Marion Rains 

afforded him to give foreign missionary messages 
to the people. His feeling was that after raising 
the money needed at the morning service and the 
service of dedication in the afternoon, he should 
always spend the evening hour in an address on 
foreign missions. By that time in the day every- 
body was enthusiastic about him and the church 
membership was usually very happy because he 
had raised more than enough in pledges to pay the 
balance on their building. Like a physician who 
has healed a patient found in distress, he then had 
the confidence of all and could say anything he 
liked. The house was always crowded and the 
people enthusiastic, and his greatest missionary 
addresses were given on these occasions. Many a 
church enthusiastically paid for its own building 
at the morning hour and then quite as enthusiasti- 
cally pledged support in the evening for a Living 
Link. 

While Mr. Rains was a man of one purpose 
and kept enthusiastically at the one task of foreign 
missions, he was versatile in his thinking and in 
his sympathies. 

He had a striking way of making people see the 
need and the bigness of the task and illustrations 
drawn from his visits to the mission fields always 
made foreign missions homey and real. There was 
a thrill in his voice which was not always melodious 
but piercing and convincing, and no one ever slept 
while he talked. He knew how to sprinkle humor 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 59 

with his seriousness and would often pass in a 
word from the sublime to the ridiculous. He could 
quite as easily, however, make his audience weep as 
laugh. No one could visualize a given situation, a 
stingy church or a parsimonious individual better 
than himself. Often his running commentary on 
some delinquent church or covetous man would 
bring roars of laughter from his audience. 

Mr. Rains and Mr. McLean both believed in 
making convention programs strong and vital. Im- 
mediately after the close of one annual convention 
several evenings would be spent together planning 
the program for the next convention. The topics 
chosen were vital and had to do with the needs, the 
financial watchword, and the different ways of 
raising money, as well as presenting the work from 
the mission fields. No man could conduct a sym- 
posium at a convention better than Mr. Rains. 
He had some such part in nearly every convention. 
One year he would conduct a symposium on the 
Living Link idea, another year on Children's Day, 
at another time on the March offering, another 
year on missionary preaching and then on steward- 
ship and so on. His idea was to get eight or ten 
strong speakers who would speak from five to ten 
minutes each. His leading was always happy and 
he knew how to intersperse remarks and state- 
ments, witticism and appeal, between the brief ad- 
dresses with telling effect. The addresses and 
symposiums of the conventions were considered fine 



60 Francis Marion Rains 

campaign literature and after the convention was 
over these were converted into tracts, newspaper 
and magazine articles. 

Mr. Rains had many strong elements of states- 
manship in him. He would not allow the tyranny 
of details to imprison him, but always looked out 
on wide horizons and tried to measure the work 
through decades rather than months. He was a 
real joy to the missionaries on the fields and his 
journeys among these workers were an inspiration. 
Many a discouraged missionary was given new 
hope and courage by his wise counsel and plan- 
ning. He unraveled many a tangled web of mis- 
sionary policy and succeeded in harmonizing con- 
flicting personalities and plans as he threw himself 
into the life of the missionaries on the fields. He 
could be the careful diplomat when it was wise and 
at other times could speak out with fearlessness 
and decision. He always had the courage of his con- 
viction. No man was better than he to jar a mis- 
sionary or a group of workers loose from a pro- 
gram which was too conservative and which did 
not take the long future into account. 

Mr. Rains was a truly great speaker. We had 
no one in our brotherhood who could so electrify a 
convention or an audience. He was a man of 
rather eccentric manner, and resorted to none of 
the tricks of the orator. However, in his quaint 
utterances, his rare wit, his homely philosophy and 
his burning zeal keyed up to a high pitch of en- 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 61 

thusiasm, he swept the people along irresistibly. 
He spoke with authority, as one having unbounded 
conviction with regard to the substance of his own 
message. He used odd sentences, striking state- 
ments and startling facts. He impressed you as 
being one filled to the bursting point with his mes- 
sage. There never was a word of doubt or hesi- 
tancy. He often dealt in superlatives. The words 
"great," "enlargement," "world-wide," "for- 
ward," "loyalty," were often repeated. 

He was always reading the newest and freshest 
of books. He kept himself in intimate touch with 
the educational life in our fellowship, served for 
many years as one of the trustees of Transylvania 
College, and when he was beyond sixty years of 
age and thought of retiring from the secretaryship, 
planned to go to Yale and spend a year in school 
before settling down in a small pastorate for the 
rest of his life. Occasionally, during his years 
with the Society, he would spend a month in sum- 
mer in holding evangelistic meetings. He was 
very successful in this, too, and his services were 
always in demand. 

Mr. Rains was a contagious optimist. He knew 
how to break up a sordid and discouraging situa- 
tion with a bombardment of laughter, the sting of 
ridicule and the strength of a wide wholesome 
vision. His advice was never to pay too much at- 
tention to criticism and questioning. "Launch 
ahead, ' ' he always said. ' ' Do the work ; let victory 



62 Francis Marion Rains 

be the proof of the pudding." He struck fire to 
the soul. His life and work were radiant. He 
laughed at the most difficult times and his rare 
humor brought cheer to many a weary heart. 
No one could tell a joke better than Brother 
Rains, and he knew how to tell one with point 
in a difficult situation. To illustrate his sense 
of the ridiculous, one time when a serious error 
had been made in some plan he said, "Well, 
my friends, there may be folks who have made 
bigger fools of themselves than we have, but none 
have ever made a bigger variety of fools of them- 
selves than we have. ' ' Often when the Society had 
been misunderstood, was being attacked, or when 
the brotherhood seemed to grow greatly concerned 
over some theological controversy, he would say: 
"What we need is a Disciple Puck or comic paper 
to crack open our seriousness over tweedle-dee and 
tweedle-dum and cure us of our conceit in taking 
ourselves too seriously." 

Mr. Eains was a wonderfully attractive person- 
ality to those who knew him best. His sense of 
humor was very rare and this fine trait bore him 
over many a hard place and no doubt prolonged 
his life. He had a great heart and formed strong 
personal attachments. No one could have been a 
better yokefellow than Mr. Eains. He had srtong 
personal opinions, but he was always loved by his 
associates. He never let an opportunity pass of 
saying a fine, strong word concerning those who 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 63 

worked with him. He magnified the work of those 
with whom he toiled. His support of Mr. McLean, 
with whom he worked so long, was very beautiful. 
He always pushed him to the fore and made his 
leadership stand out w T ith emphasis. No man 
had closer friends among the pastors and business 
men throughout our brotherhood than F. M. Rains. 
He loved his friends very deeply and met them 
with good cheer and a fine display of friendly wit. 
Several times while in ill health he wished very 
much to resign from the work, but the personal 
attachment to A. McLean and others held him to 
the task. 

His love for Mr. McLean was wonderful. They 
were as different in temperament as two men could 
possibly be. Their judgment often clashed and 
they did not hesitate to speak plainly to each other 
about differences in opinion, but their love was 
never marred. No two men ever supplemented 
each other better than they. When death ap- 
proached and Mr. Rains was hardly able to speak 
he called for his old friend and yokefellow. On 
the verge of the great unseen world, when his lips 
could hardly phrase the words, he said, "I love 
the brethren, I love the brethren,' ' and then to 
Mrs. Rains and Paul, as Mr. McLean turned 
away, "I love him with an unceasing love." 

No one will ever be able to properly measure 
the vital contribution which this great leader made 
to the missionary life of our people. During the 



64 Francis Marion Rains 

critical twenty-six years in which we were made 
a real missionary people, Mr. Rains was the practi- 
cal, promotional genius, while Mr. McLean was the 
prophet and school teacher of our missionary life. 

Mr. Eains took great pride in the Missionary In- 
telligencer, which was the official organ of the 
Foreign Christian Missionary Society. When it 
was first published it was devoted to the interests 
of all the organized work, and as Secretary of the 
Church Extension Board, Mr. Rains was among the 
first editors. The year he became Secretary of the 
Foreign Christian Missionary Society it was taken 
over by that society and he continued one of the 
editors until it was merged with the publications 
of the other societies into World Call. "While it 
was almost like giving up one of his own children, 
he rejoiced in the nobler proportions and increased 
circulation of the new magazine. 

With the approaching thirty-fifth anniversary 
of Mr. McLean's connection with the Foreign 
Christian Missionary Society, Mr. Rains conceived 
the idea of creating a fund of $10,000 to com- 
memorate the event, and provide for the support 
of a missionary on the foreign field forever ($600 
at that time being the amount necessary). The 
many friends of Mr. McLean everywhere were glad 
to share in this. In addition, the secretaries ar- 
ranged for a public demonstration in the Central 
Christian Church, Cincinnati, on the first Sunday 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 65 

in March, 1917, at which time representatives of 
the other boards, as well as pastors and friends 
from nearby points, joined with local forces in 
making it a memorable occasion. A leather bound 
book containing telegrams and letters from all over 
the country, was presented to Mr. McLean, and 
addresses of congratulation and affection served 
to show the high esteem and love of his friends, 
Mr. Rains was not well and had been in the South 
for some weeks, but braved the cold and discom- 
fort of the worst blizzard of the year to be with 
the "Bishop," as he loved to call his comrade 
of many years, and added his message of apprecia- 
tion. 

The following letters which have been preserved 
are self-revealing and show something of the af- 
fection and respect that existed between these as- 
sociates. As the letters from Mr. McLean and Mr. 
Corey indicate, Mr. Rains upon several occasions 
felt that his health was such that it would be better 
to give up the work, but upon their insistence, he 
consented to continue. 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 
October 1, 1912. 
Rev. S. J. Corey, 
c-o S. S. Lusitania, 
New York. 
My Dear Brother Corey: 

Welcome to American soil! We are delighted to see 
you. If you have any African germs on you please take a 
bath before you come this way. We are very particular 



66 Francis Marion Rains 

down around Cincinnati. There is no dirt here I will give 
you to understand. Only the immaculate are allowed to 
enter the cleanly precincts of the Queen City of the West. 

Well, really, we are delighted to have you come home. 
Personally, I am overjoyed. I have been lonesome with- 
out you. Your Sunday schools have worked my head off. 
They are an obstreperous lot of schools! We have made 
a very good gain, thank you, both in number of con- 
tributing schools and in the amount given. Our total re- 
ceipts amount to over $400,000, a gain of $21,000. The 
Lord is in the earth as well as in his heaven. 

That man Abram Cory is a prince. He is doing won- 
ders. You will hear from him and his team. The Standard 
folks are still blowing and fussing. They are now after 
Fortune and they want to get after Hopkins. What do 
you think? Hopkins put Maclachlan on his program and 
also that Chicago man that we appointed for Cuba and 
did not go out, you know his name, and Lappin wrote him 
protesting against these two men being on the program. 
Think of it! Hopkins wrote him a note and told him that 
it was too late to consider his suggestion. 

Well, we have tried to keep the old ship sailing till you 
get here. Now if she springs a leak you will have to calk 
her up. 

Your wife and children are very happy. They seem to 
do well without you. Let me know definitely what train 
you will be on and what hour and I will send your wife 
down to meet you. 

Affectionately yours, 

F. M. Rains. 

July 23, 1914. 
Dear Brother Rains: 

I want to thank you for that very tender personal letter. 
You have been everything to me through these nine years 
we have been together, and have been so whole-hearted and 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 67 

Christ-like in all our relationship. I never can tell you 
just how much all this has meant to me. I regret leaving 
just now with the burden of things on you as heavy as 
they are, but it seems that I should go. I feel unworthy 
of this great privilege and weak as I face its responsibility. 

Brother Rains, I do not want you to leave the work. You 
must not — the work cannot spare you and we would be at 
sea without your great experience and wisdom. I pray 
God that you may have strength and that the work may 
hold you for years yet. 

I am so disappointed about the Sunday schools for I 
felt they would gain handsomely. We worked hard on them, 
too. Hope the churches continue to gain. 

I'll bear your message of love to the missionaries. 

My sensitive point! Fishing! And you are so in- 
discreet as to stir me upon it while saying ion voyage. I 
am as sensitive on that point as you are on singing and 
as efficient too. Supposing we draw a bargain. I'll praise 
your voice in its musical cadences, if you'll praise my 
prowess with the rod and reel. I think I'm generous, too. 

But I will try the Yangtse if I get a chance, but I 
won't risk a picture, you discredit even my pictures of 
fish! 

The August Intelligencer is a dandy. Bower and I 
have been going over it. It hits the spot. 

Well, may the Lord bless and keep you in his sweet 
peace. I shall think of you so often. 

With true affection, 

Stephen. 

Tokyo, Japan. 
November 18, 1914. 
Mr. F. M. Rains, 

Box 884, Cincinnati. 
Dear Brother Rains: 

I have found no time for a letter but I must write just 



68 Francis Marion Rains 

a word. We are leaving today for Akita. We have been 
busy night and day. You will be reading the letter to 
Brother McLean in which I mention some things of im- 
portance. 

I do trust, Brother Rains, that you will not plan to 
leave the work. I cannot bear to think of it. If you were 
ever needed it seems to be now. Your efforts have been 
so untiring and you have developed the work so wonder- 
fully. We must have your wisdom and help for some years 
to eome. Of course, you must write the first March Offer- 
ing circular and the rest of them too. I will help you 
out of course. Expect to get home January first, ready for 
work. Am very anxious to get back. 

With Christmas love to all, 

Affectionately yours, 

Stephen J. 

Dec. 8, 1914. 
My dear Doctor: 

I wish you would give up all thought of giving up the 
work on Mr. Corey's return. I thought after our talk on 
the subject, that you were going to do that. It appears 
clear to me that it will be better for you and for the 
work, for you to do this. The work needs you; I feel that 
Christ needs you in the Rooms. I greatly wish that you 
would remain there always. 

You are planning a Florida trip. I think you would 
do far better if you went to Michigan or Minnesota. It 
is cold weather you need. That is far more health-giving 
and life-giving than the warm weather of Florida. The 
cold destroys germs of all kinds and fills the system with 
ozone and electricity and energy. Florida debilitates and 
thins the blood. A month in Battle Creek would do you 
more good than a winter in Florida, a hundred times 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 69 

as much good. This is my conviction. I trust Mrs. Rains is 
about herself again. 

Affectionately yours, 

A. McLean. 

St. Louis, Mo. 

March 2, 1915. 
Dear Doctor: 

Wherever I go I find the people greatly interested in 
you. You have a large place in the hearts of the people, 
and you deserve it. No man has ever rendered our cause a 
better service than you have. E. B. Barnes was speaking 
about you when I saw him last. He said he never saw 
your equal in energy, enthusiasm and "pep." Tens of 
thousands feel the same. The hope of all who know you is 
that you will so recruit your strength in the months you 
are absent from the Rooms that you will be able to take 
your place in the work before the end of the year. I do 
not know how we are going to go on and grow without your 
presence and help. The prayer of your associates in the 
Rooms is for your complete recovery, and that speedily. 
God bless you and Mrs. Rains and all dear to you. 

Affectionately yours, 

A. McLean. 

Memphis, Tenn. 
Nov. 17, 1917. 
My dear Doctor: 

Yours of the 6th reached me in Nashville. I am now 
in Memphis. We are having good meetings. Yesterday's 
set-up was wonderful. I think I was never in a better 
service. Miller made a profound impression. He is an 
orator. Abe does too, though he is not a bit like Miller. Our 
people — Madden, Hagin, Dye and Dr. McGavran, stir 
the people. No one stirs them more deeply than Dr. 



70 Francis Marion Bains 

McGavran. All the speakers do well, and are heard with 
deepest interest. 

We did not get much money in Nashville. The Y. M. 
C. A. was trying to raise money at the same time. The 
claims of the war came first. Men say, "We must win the 
war." Till the war is won they do not propose to give 
for any other cause. 

We have not begun to solicit in Memphis. We shall do 
better here than we did in Nashville. 

I was not mistaken about Paul's speech. He did re- 
markably well. I was proud of him and happy on your 
account and on his account. 

The President of the General Convention will not pre- 
side at all the conventions. There is nothing in the con- 
stitution to that effect. 

Smith of North Carolina told me of your great address 
at Wilson. He said you carried the Convention by storm. 

You speak about being well. I trust you will take 
good care of yourself. Be sure to get plenty of sleep. 
Don't overwork. Let Mrs. Rains have her way with you. 

I am a poor solicitor. Abe knows that. I am sent 
with an experienced man. All I am expected to do is 
to reenforce my mate with my presence and some few 
words now and then. I help with the maps and charts 
and speak when there is an opportunity. 

Abe has not been with us much. Rafe is in full com- 
mand most of the time. We are a happy family. 

We are due in Cincinnati the night before Thanksgiving. 
The Georgia campaign has been called off for the present. 
Billy Sunday is in Atlanta; that is the reason. 

I am well and enjoy this new experience. I wish for 
you and Mrs. Rains all the best things in life. 

Affectionately yours, 

A. McLean. 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 71 

St. Louis, Mo. 
Nov. 12, 1920. 
Dear Mrs. Rains: 

Please tell me what books by Isaac Errett you have in 
your library. I have been looking for his book entitled 
"Linsey Woolsey and other Addresses." The Standard 
Publishing 1 Company says the work is out of print. If you 
have it, would you sell it or loan it to me? Please tell me 
what other missionary books you have, aside from the 
Intelligencer. 

When I called at your home before leaving Cincinnati, 
it was to express my gratitude to you for all your hos- 
pitality and kindness. You and Mr. Rains were more to me 
than any other two people in Cincinnati. Your home was 
the only home I visited regularly. The world is different 
to you since Mr. Rains answered the home-call. The world 
is different to me, too. On his account and on your own 
account I shall always be interested in you, and shall al- 
ways wish you all the best things in life. If I had had 
an opportunity I would have told you this while you were 
in St. Louis. 

God love you and prosper you always and in all things. 

Very truly yours, 
A. McLean. 

There follow short statements from C. W. Plop- 
per, who has served for years as Treasurer of the 
Foreign Christian Missionary Society, and later 
of the United Christian Missionary Society, and 
also from Bert Wilson and C. M. Yocum, Secre- 
taries of the Foreign Missionary Society and now 
occupying like positions in the United Christian 
Missionary Society: 

It is a great privilege and splendid opportunity for any 



72 Francis Marion Bains 

young man to be intimately associated in his business con- 
nection with an aggressive, conscientious, Christian man of 
older years. Beginning as a young man it was my privi- 
lege to be very closely associated with F. M. Rains for 
nearly nineteen years in the offices of the Foreign Christian 
Missionary Society. We were also members of the same 
local congregation during the larger part of that period. 
By opportune words of brotherly counsel and by a wonder- 
ful Christian example, he was most helpful to me. His 
consecration to the great task to which he was connected 
was always a marvel to me. Personal comforts or desires 
were always pushed aside when there was an opportunity 
to present the world-wide work of the Master for which he 
truly gave his life. In his passing I have felt a keen 
personal loss and look forward to the time when we can 
again be associated in our Father's Kingdom. — C. W. 
Plopper. 

***** 

The first time I ever saw F. M. Rains to know him was 
at the Omaha National Convention in 1903. Mrs. Wilson 
and I were newlyweds, attending our first National Con- 
vention together. Mr. Rains sat in front of us at one of 
the sessions of the Convention and listened with such eager- 
ness and enthusiasm and zeal, that it seemed almost as 
hard work as if he had been making a speech. That 
was characteristic of Mr. Rains throughout his life. 

A couple of years later I received a telegram to meet 
Mr. Rains in St. Joseph, Missouri, to talk over an important 
proposition that he wanted to present to me. I took the 
next train from Humboldt, Nebraska, and met him about six 

'clock in the evening. We had supper together and he 
requested me to go out to Krug Park with him. During 
all this time he made no mention of the matter for which 

1 was called to meet him. Arriving at Krug Park we found 
a bench under some large trees, and as soon as we 
sat down, Mr. Rains abruptly said, " Wilson, the Foreign 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 73 

Society wants you to go to Cuba as a missionary. ' ' And 
then he laid out the opportunity and the need for a man 
to take up work in Cuba at once. I was not through 
college and, of course, when I explained to him that I had 
two more years of college work before me, he agreed with 
me that I should not undertake the work before the time 
that I should have finished college. But when I left him 
he said, "Remember that some time you must join us in 
this Foreign Missionary work." 

When I was called to work for the Foreign Society, I 
had a long talk with Mr. Rains, in which he outlined with 
directness and vigor the task of a secretary as he saw it. 
He said that it meant hard work; that a man had to live 
with that job for twenty-four hours of every day; that he 
had to work at foreign missions and even dream foreign 
missions. He said it was a job that meant separation from 
one's family for weeks and sometimes months; that there 
were hardships in connection with it; that there were many 
advisers, and that these advisers usually felt that they 
knew more about the proposition than the one who had 
spent twenty-five years at it. 

On the other hand, he said that you could usually trust 
the brethren; that the judgment of the big mass of our 
folk was usually safe and sound on any proposition. He 
said the task had many compensations, among them a host 
of friends which would accumulate through the years. 
These friends, he said, loved the foreign missionary cause 
and gave their money and their prayers for it, some of 
them gave their children to help it go forward. 

Most of the time that I lived in Cincinnati, our home was 
across the street from Mr. Rains. I then learned more in- 
timately something of the vigor and strength of character, 
and untiring zeal of the man. He worked early and late. 
He lived and talked and dreamed about his job more than 
any man I ever knew. One could not talk with him for 
ten minutes without his making some reference to the task 



74 Francis Marion Rains 

of foreign missions. He was a man of unusual optimism. 
He always thought in terms of enlargement. 

During the last year or two of his life, when he was 
almost incapacitated for work, he longed to be at the task 
again. He always spoke of the time when he would be 
stronger and be able to go out and visit the churches and 
get them to become Living Links and give more money to 
the cause. 

He often came over to our home in the evening and 
played croquet with our girls. One game was about as 
much as his strength would allow, but he seemed to put as 
much vigor into trying to win as if he were dedicating a 
church or raising a Living Link for foreign missions. The 
girls always enjoyed playing with him because he played 
with such enthusiasm. 

The morning on which I started on my trip to India, 
Mr. Rains came over to bid me good-bye. After a short 
visit, as he was about to leave, he said, "Tell the mis- 
sionaries that we all love them; that we are going to get 
more money to support their work than ever before. Tell 
them that we are just in the beginning of our foreign 
missionary work and that it will grow larger and larger 
from year to year." — Bert Wilson. 
***** 

The first time I saw F. M. Rains, he appeared to me 
to be a man of unusual ability. I had united with the 
church at Steubenville, Ohio, in my earliest teens. Shortly 
thereafter, the old building in which I made the confession 
and was baptized, was torn down to make way for a new 
building. My father drew the plans for the new building 
and I helped to clean brick taken from the old building, 
to make them fit for use in the new. Hence, the erection 
of that new building was of more than usual interest to 
me, and usual interest would have made it an "occasion. 5 ' 
Had we not talked of a new and up-to-date church for 
many months? 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 75 

When the new building was completed F. M. Rains came 
to dedicate it. Of all the men in our brotherhood capable 
of dedicating a church building, he was selected as the 
most capable. 

The day of dedication arrived. The new church, beauti- 
fully decorated, awaited the word of a man of God to 
set it apart to the worship of God, and the man of God 
came in the person of Mr. Rains. The setting, to me, 
was perfect, and in that setting Mr. Rains stood out as 
a man of unusual power and consecration. 

Three times I heard him preach that day and even yet 
I can recall quite clearly his witty plays on the names of 
the contributors. I do not recall anything else he said, 
but the impression made upon me, deep and abiding, was 
that of a great occasion and a great man; a great thing 
done in a great way. I was in the hero-worshiping stage 
of my development and Mr. Rains at once became one 
of my heroes. 

Could I contribute a more beautiful flower to his mem- 
ory than to say that more intimate acquaintance with him 
in more mature years did not dim or mar that earlier, 
idealistic picture of boyhood, but rather served to make 
it more distinct and real? Mr. Rains was a big man, a 
man of God. It was not my privilege to know him inti- 
mately as long as his other associates in the office knew 
him, for he lived only a little more than a year after I 
went to Cincinnati, and much of that time he was away 
because of his illness. But I knew him long enough to 
know the measure of the man and the source of his power. 

Shortly after entering the office it became my duty to 
promote the March Offering which he had promoted so 
long and so successfully. One of the big items in his 
promotion of the day was the "March Offering Circular " 
to the ministers. I went to his desk and asked him the 
principles of a successful circular. He invited me to sit 
down and then, at length and in detail, went over the 



76 Francis Marion Rains 

things which from his long experience he deemed essential. 

Three things, he said, were necessary. Base the case 
on the Bible. Our people love the Book. Rest the argu- 
ment on the Word of God. Present the work, its triumphs 
and its needs. People will contribute when they see the 
need. Let them know the facts. Then dress the circular 
in attractive garb, not gaudy, but in such clothing as 
will claim the attention of the preachers. These, he said, 
were the principles upon which he worked and gladly he 
passed them on to others in the work. These principles 
are sound principles. They are absolutely sincere and 
genuine, no tricks are concealed, and they reflect the 
genuineness of the man who discovered and adopted them 
and the liberality with which he passed them on reflected 
his magnanimity. 

Fellowship with F. M. Rains was a benediction. In his 
life he exemplified the reign of God in the heart of man, 
and in his long and successful service he promoted the 
spread of the Kingdom of God among the nations. — C. M. 
Yocum. 

As plans were formulated for the unification 
of all the missionary interests of the Disciples of 
Christ, Mr. Rains was greatly concerned. Failing 
health prevented any active participation, but as 
he had opportunity he inquired as to certain phases 
of the consolidation. Mr. McLean, when in the 
city, spent every Thursday evening with Mr. Rains. 
Thus it happened that they were together the night 
before Mr. Rains' final relapse, and many ques- 
tions were asked and answered regarding the con- 
stitution of the United Christian Missionary 
Society. Mr. Rains was not permitted to see this 
Society put into operation. The Foreign Christian 



The Foreign Christian Missionary Society 11 

Missionary Society was a part of his very being 
and with its passing as a separate organization, he 
laid aside his armor. He had finished his course. 
Mr. McLean was able to contribute much to the 
organization of the new society and served a little 
over a year as its vice-president, when he, too, was 
called to higher service, on December 15, 1920, and 
the names McLean and Eains are linked together 
again as they were for so many years in their work 
for the evangelization of the world. 



CHAPTER FIVE 

RELATION TO THE MISSIONARIES 

Two visits were made by Mr. Rains to the Orient. 
The first in 1901 to China and Japan. This was a 
great help to him in the prosecution of the work. 
He gained new enthusiasm and greater arguments 
for foreign missions. It was on this trip that he 
saw the vision of schools for the Orient, and 
as a result raised thousands of dollars for this 
purpose. 

While on this tour Mr. Rains wrote an account 
of his experiences to the church papers, the same 
being issued later in booklet form under the title, 
"A Visit to Our Mission Stations." In the last 
letter he summed up his impressions as follows : 

On this trip to the East I have seen many new and 
strange things. I have seen mighty mountains and vol- 
canoes, great cities, ancient temples, great statesmen and 
scholars, but nothing I have seen has impressed me so 
much as the marvelous success of the gospel in these lands. 
I went out believing and hoping and I return knowing and 
enthusiastic. The man who questions the success of the 
work in Japan and China doubts the testimony of thousands 
of as intelligent and consecrated men and women as the 
world has ever seen. 

Of this visit, F. E. Meigs, one of the pioneers of 
the mission in China, who has since died, writes 
as follows: 

78 



Relation to the Missionaries 79 

Our annual convention has just closed. Brother Rains 
was with us and did us great good. He has just left and 
we feel somewhat lonely without him. He was full of 
life and encouraged us by his hopeful words and manner. 
It is a good stroke of business to send a business man 
like Brother Rains out to see the field and the workers. 
It does not require miles of argument to make him see the 
needs of the mission. He takes the situation in at a 
glance. I am writing to you at this time to tell you some 
of our hopes and purposes. It has been decided, Brother 
Rains acquiescing, to enlarge our school work in China. 

W. Remfry Hunt, who went out to China from 
England nearly thirty years ago, contributes some 
reminiscences of Mr. Rains which will be of 
interest : 

It opened up new windows through which the mission 
fields could be seen, when it was decided to send secretaries 
and representatives of the Mission Boards to India, China 
and Japan. In the choice of its representatives, the Foreign 
Christian Missionary Society was wise. It sent men of 
vision. Francis M. Rains came to China as a colleague. 
He entered into the problems and achievements of the mis- 
sionaries. He came when the Society was foundingi its 
mission stations. He visited them with the missionaries 
and shared the loneliness and the hardships with them. 

Francis M. Rains was a missionary statesman of no mean 
caliber. In Chuchow, he met the pioneers, W. Remfry Hunt 
and Dr. E. I. Osgood, and marvelled when he saw the 
li roughing it" these missionaries who blazed the trail had 
to encounter, and endure cheerfully. He saw the old 
thatched house. It had centipedes, rats, spiders, and even 
snakes that had undisturbed for decades made cozy habitat 
in its rafters. He saw our first dispensary, primary school, 
church building made of mud walls and mud floor and 



80 Francis Marion Rains 

thatched roof. Brother Rains said he felt highly honored 
as he slept with us in Chinese boats, dined in Chinese inns, 
traveled in Chinese fashion, wondered at our mysterious 
language jargon, and marvelled that it could mean anything 
so natural as "real American talking.'' His hearty laugh, 
his quick discernment and his careful manner in suggest- 
ing any improvements made him a friend and counsellor to 
be trusted. 

It was a calm morning in the fall of 1901 that I took 
F. M. Rains to one of our mission churches at Wu-i in 
Anhwei Province. It was a great farming area. It at- 
tracted Mr. Rains at once and he remarked upon the pro- 
ductiveness of the soil and its great economic values when 
the Chinese catch the fire of enthusiasm and build their own 
churches. It seemed as if with prophetic vision he was 
looking down the years to the present time when the Chu- 
chow district has had such fine growth and advancement. 
He said, looking deeply into my eyes, "Young man, this is 
the field for your life-work, stay here and build the 
churches. • ' From Chuchow a radiating course of stations 
has been opened up. It has indeed been a starting point 
for missions even into the remote parts of the province. To 
the time of his death, Mr. Rains took a deep personal in- 
terest in all these points he had visited. The native Chris- 
tians called him "the bishop" and always referred to him 
in terms of personal affection. I think it gave him a tre- 
mendous urge and reality in his faith as he always spoke 
of these live-wire churches in the field as the advance posts 
in the firing line. He remembered the pastors and teachers 
and sent them greetings in his personal correspondence. 

On the occasion of his leaving Chuchow for Xanking we 
had quite an exciting experience. The country was in- 
fested with brigandage. They had no respect of persons. 
Chuchow is about fifty miles from Xanking and the return 
journey was to be taken by the canal. Mr. Rains had never 
met or been held up by robbers; if he had been, he would 



Relation to the Missionaries 81 

have had some respect for their boldness. The military- 
governor of our city was a bit anxious and sent an armed 
escort of some two soldiers in a small sampan following 
close behind us. It took about a day and a night to make 
it in fair weather. All went well till along about midnight 
the head boatman on our boat put his head into my compart- 
ment, which was at the main entrance, and whispered that 
it was very unlucky, but that there were some suspicious 
characters following the boat in the direction of the more 
sparsely populated parts. Presently the suspects proved 
their real calling and challenged us. 

1 ' Pull alongside, old fellow, if you know and respect us, ' ' 
shouted the leader of the robber band. 

At this juncture I was anxious that Mr. and Mrs. Rains 
should not be informed of the peril, and asked the boatman 
to keep in the middle of the stream. 

''They have ropes and hooks attached for lassoing 
us," he cried. 

Then there was a pandemonium of swearing and cursing 
and firing commenced. 

' ' Shall I return the fire ? ' ' the soldiers asked of me. 

I called out, "Who are you? We are foreigners going to 
the capital." 

"Won't you dare-devils answer us?" they retorted. 

"We will answer them," shouted our soldiers angrily, 
and poured in a volley of fire in their direction, for they 
were following us on the banks. 

Then I knew we were in for trouble. It was a situation. 
We had the far-famed Treasurer of the Foreign Christian 
Missionary Society aboard and thoughts surged up as to 
what a commotion it would make in America should we 
be captured by these fellows who would handle us none too 
delicately. It was not, to say the least, conducive to quiet 
meditation. Mr. and Mrs. Rains were sound asleep in their 
cabins. Should I awaken them? How could I break the 
news to them? What effect would it have upon them? 



: J Francis M:rr'o> Bo. ')•.$ 

These and a hundred other thoughts surged up in my mind, 
and stirred all sorts of imagination. We lifted thoughts 
in prayer. "We had proved God in trials and difficulties 
abundant. So I let them sleep. The firing had ceased and 
; . with other reasons, because we were nearing one of 
the small military encampments along the route. 

Toward the early dawn Mr. Rains dreamily awakened 
and remarked that he was somewhat disturbed by noises. 
At breakfast and at morning prayers I explained the some- 
what startling incidents of the night, but under those won- 
derful, silent, starry, oriental nights, wearied by travels, 
the treasurer and his wife had slept the sleep of the just 
and rested. ''Under His shadow we dwell in safety among 
the heathen.'-' 

Xearing the close of his life Mr. Rains wrote me a beauti- 
ful letter. I can only give extracts from it. ''Let me con- 
gratulate you, my dear brother, upon the long years of 
service you have given to China. It has been a wonderful 
experience to have seen the Church of Christ grow up over 
the ashes of heathenism. You have stood long and faithful. 
You have been a sentinel alone in many battlefields. The 
great brotherhood honors and takes note of your service. 
Those churches are a crown of joy. You have given a life- 
time to China in the midst of the greatest days of its 
missionary struggles, pioneer life and constructive work. 
Missionaries are the architects of a new civilization. Let 
us know fully and sincerely what we can do for you in 
any way to forward the splendid interests to which you 
and your dear wife have devoted your lives. The benedic- 
tions of the Father be with you and you: s. ' 

In the quiet of the home life F. M. Rains was at his 
best Those who knew him in the great conventions re- 
membered him as the thundering and clarion call, the voice 
of a mighty man of valor, the strong and clear executive 
in administration. But it was in his own home at Norwood, 
Cincinnati. Ohio, that he and his amiable wife had a 



Relation to the Missionaries 83 

' ' prophet 's chamber ' ' where they boasted more missionaries 
than usual had rested. It was a benediction to be there. 
It seems strange that we shall hear his voice no more on 
this side of the river, and the thought will come: It must 
be all right. He is over there now in company with his 
beloved comrade, Archibald McLean, and one muses on the 
dream that they are in higher service in the Kingdom for 
which all this service was as but a school. 

The Chinese students were attracted by the fine person- 
ality and strong character of F. M. Rains. "When they 
presented him with his Chinese card and had his name in- 
scribed, he was very much interested in having them give 
him the interpretation of the Chinese hieroglyphics. His 
name put into the transliteration of Chinese and adapted to 
its phonetics was: RUT EN-ZS, which means: "Discerning 
and finished teacher of Grace.' 7 Mr. Rains smiled, good- 
naturedly, and said: 

"Isn't that fine? You fellows are too polite." 

They said, "Not at all, what language, what language 
of compliment." 

Once they kept Mr. Rains waiting about half an hour 
before opening up the boat to cross the Yangtse, and even 
then, upon starting, one said to the other as they were 
leaving the sides of the river: 

"Go slowly, go slowly," which was meant to be polite. 

When Mr. Rains heard it, he said, "Tell them to get a 
move on them." 

They were amused and said, "He is a foreigner, and 
hasn 't read our book of rights which prescribes the decorum 
of parting guests ! ' ' 

The next visit was made to India, Philippine 
Islands, China, Japan and Korea, from July, 1910, 
to July, 1911. At the earnest solicitation of the 
Churches of Christ in Australia which were co- 



84 Francis Marion Rains 

operating in the work in India, China and Japan, 
Mr. Rains spent a month in that county. He was 
kept busy every moment of the time, the churches 
very graciously paying all the expenses of both 
Mr. and Mrs. Rains during the entire stay. The 
following are some of the words of appreciation 
of the value of the visit, sent to Mr. McLean : 

You will not be surprised to hear that Brother Rains 
received a most cordial welcome wherever he went. His 
visit was a benediction to our churches. Our one regret 
was that his stay was so limited. Will you please convey 
to your board our hearty appreciation of their kindness in 
arranging for his visit to Australia? It has meant much 
for us. Our vision has been broadened and hearts enriched. 
He has won our love and the Australian brethren have 
been drawn much closer to America. We realize as never 
before our oneness in Christ. The missionary spirit has 
received a mighty uplift. — D. A. Ewers. 

Brother Rains has come and gone. I could not begin to 
tell you how completely Brother Rains captured the hearts 
of our people. I do not say too much when I say that he 
made our State and Federal Conferences. On every subject 
he was ready with just the word. We wanted to raise $1250 
at our meeting. Brother Rains spoke and in the hands of 
Brother Thomas, the thing was possible. We were dis- 
cussing the best way to support the work of the Council 
of Churches; he spoke and the motion carried. His very 
first speech, which was a response to the first welcome, was 
a plea to enlarge, and all through the conferences he kept 
that same plea before us, until we wanted to go out, 
every one of us, and do evangelistic work. He is a giant 
and has put a larger heart and vision into each one of us. 
God bless him for coming to our conferences. His genial 



Relation to the Missionaries 85 

spirit was the delight of all. Crowds came to hear him. 
All went away filled. — Ira A. Paternoster. 

Thanks a thousand times for letting Brother Rains come 
our way. His visit has been a great blessing to us all. 
He has cheered and inspired us. He has helped us to be- 
lieve more in ourselves and in our Christ and encouraged us 
to attempt greater things in the future. We wish we could 
keep him here. — Horace Kingsbury. 

The visit of F. M. Rains will make an epoch in the his- 
tory of our work in Western Australia. His unbounded 
enthusiasm, his optimism, his world-wide vision, his fidelity 
to the gospel message, lifted us out of our provincialism, 
gave us a vision like unto his own for larger things and 
led us into a new appreciation of the movement for the 
restoration of the New Testament church and the plea 
for the union of God's people. 

His original manner, his epigrammatic style, his thunder- 
ing climaxes, his fund of information, his sparkling humor 
and heart-searching pathos, all combined to make him one 
of the most interesting and powerful speakers Perth audi- 
ences have ever heard. Whether it was a welcome meeting 
of his own brethren, a sisters' meeting for women only, a 
men's banquet, a children's service, or a great combined 
meeting with many visitors from other churches, he never 
failed to gain the ears of his audiences and hold them in 
rapt attention until the last word. On three occasions he 
spoke for one hour and then left his hearers eager for 
more. A newspaper reporter said he was one of the most 
interesting persons he had ever interviewed. A prominent 
social worker said, "Mr. Rains dwarfs any missionary 
advocate who has hitherto visited our State." Many of 
our own people were taken by surprise, for they had not 
realized that one of the great men of the modern mission- 
ary movement was coming among us. 



86 Francis Marion Rains 

From Australia the long trip across the Indian 
Ocean was made to India, where six weeks were 
spent in intensive work and thought as Mr. Rains 
journeyed from one station to another, conferred 
with individual missionaries or met with all of the 
missionaries in convention assembled. Dr. George 
W. Brown, now on the faculty of the College of 
Missions, Indianapolis, Indiana, but for some years 
a valued missionary in India, writes as follows : 

One of the advantages of Brother Rains' visit to India in 
1910 was that it enabled the missionaries to see things a 
bit more clearly from the standpoint of the Board. Not 
that there was ever any lack of appreciation of the diffi- 
culties of the Board, but separated by ten thousand miles 
of ocean, and engrossed by the details of work on the field, 
missionaries find it difficult to grasp all the problems which 
are confronted at the home base. When, for instance, it 
becomes, necessary for the Home Board to reduce appropria- 
tions to the field, it is impossible for the missionaries on 
some far away field to see and understand the reasons. Or, 
when one sees the appropriations for his field stationary 
for a number of years and the amount appropriated to 
another field mounting annually, it is hard to understand 
that the Board is dealing alike with all the fields. 

The visit of Mr. Rains helped the missionaries in India 
to see more clearly through some of these problems, for 
at this time the mission had been for years very careful 
in its budgets in response to the repeated urging of the 
Board, and the current expense budget was being held 
practically stationary. Yet the total receipts of the Society 
had been mounting, and it was hard to see why the India 
mission was not allowed to expand and take advantage of 
opportunities which were offering themselves. Moreover, 
the total number of missionaries of the Society was in- 



Relation to the Missionaries 87 

creasing, but the number sent to India was kept for years 
at the same number. The missionaries had many questions 
to ask in regard to these matters, and Mr. Rains helped 
them to see that the Board was doing all that could be 
expected of it, and that what seemed to the missionaries to 
be a neglect of the Indian field, and a bit of partiality 
toward some other field, was really nothing more than the 
earnest endeavor of the Board to be fair with all its mis- 
sion fields. Mr. Rains compared the different fields to a 
lot of children, all of whom were clamoring to their father 
for something, and as he did not have enough to satisfy all 
their demands, he simply had to make his means go as far 
as he could and see that each one received the best he 
could give. 

Another thing was that Mr. Rains impressed very deeply 
on the missionaries the fact that they had the full sympathy 
of the Board. Some of the letters which one gets on the 
field are personal in their nature, but most of them are of 
the business type. The members of the secretarial force 
are absolutely devoted to missions, and their work at home 
makes it possible for the missionaries to be kept at their 
posts. But they have so many other things to do that they 
have little time to write to the missionaries, and seeing so 
little of them, especially those who have not had years of 
experience with the Board, are sometimes slow to realize the 
deep and earnest sympathy of the men behind them. Mr. 
Rains helped the missionaries to feel this sympathy. He 
entered into their problems, visited them in their homes, 
joked with them, rode with them, talked with them, and 
in all these ways showed that a missionary secretary is in 
full sympathy with them. This was one of the outstanding 
results of the visit of Mr. Rains. 

During his visit to India, Mr. Rains conducted a con- 
ference with the missionaries of the mission, in which they 
were invited to discuss all their problems. Some of these 
problems were of the kind that Mr. Rains might assist 



88 Francis Marion Bains 

in solving; they were of the type already referred to. 
Others were of a different class; they had to do with the 
work on the field as such. Such matters as dealing with 
converts, with native workers, with non-Christians; prob- 
lems about the education of children, problems about deal- 
ing with government. The sound common sense of Mr. 
Rains often helped to valuable suggestions in these mat- 
ters. In other cases some other missionary was able to 
help a troubled fellow-worker. In all cases the missionary 
at least had the satisfaction of opening his mind freely, 
and gaining the consciousness that others were giving him 
a sympathetic hearing. 

One thing which impressed me very much about Mr. 
Eains was the way in which he sized up men. I have known 
few, if any, who seemed to have the ability to arrive so 
quickly and accurately at an estimate of the character and 
worth of a man as he. 

After Mr. Rains returned to America, the missionaries 
felt that the Board was doing its best for them. It was at 
this time that the Men and Millions Movement was in its 
inception. From the way it originated the missionaries 
were not at first sure that it was meant to include India, 
but soon this doubt was dispelled. Mr. Rains' attitude in 
India left no doubt in the minds of the missionaries. 

Because of a storm on the Yellow Sea, enroute 
to Hongkong from India, Mr. Rains was delayed 
in reaching Manila, and was compelled to spend 
Christmas Day on a small boat tossed by angry 
seas. Bruce L. Kershner, professor in Lynchburg 
College, Lynchburg, Va., who with his wife at- 
tempted to go the American pace in a tropical cli- 
mate and was compelled to return to this country, 
gives the following account of Mr. Eains y itinerary: 



Relation to the Missionaries 89 

It was the Christmas season of 1910. The members of 
the Mission hoped to have Mr. and Mrs. Rains present for 
the exercises on Christmas Eve which that year fell on a 
Saturday; but when the regular weekly boat from Hong- 
kong arrived that afternoon without them, most of us gave 
up hope of their coming before the arrival of the next 
regular boat, one week in the future. An irregular boat 
was to come in on the next Tuesday but as it was about 
three removes from a first-class steamer, there was a gen- 
eral feeling among those accustomed to travel in the tropics 
that they would not brave the discomfort of a voyage in it. 
A few of us, however, thought they would come by the first 
connecting boat regardless of personal inconvenience and, 
acting upon that impulse, were present at their arrival. I 
shall never forget my feelings when, as the boat was coming 
alongside of the wharf, I was able to identify them among 
the crowd of Filipinos and Chinese on deck, but I was 
no quicker of eye than they, for never were prisoners more 
anxious to escape from their cells than they were to leave 
that boat with its unchristian smells and dirt. 

Without loss of time they were taken to the Mission 
House where the entire station group assembled to give them 
welcome. The next day was the time for the annual din- 
ner to the Filipino evangelists; they were just in time 
for that. Roast pig, the "Philippine turkey," was to be 
served with sufficient Philippine cookery to make the native 
men feel at home and enough American garnishments to 
protect the appetites of the American missionaries. The 
pig had been selected as early as the preceding May and 
by careful attention had by this time come to the propor- 
tions of a two hundred pounder, more or less, probably more. 
Early in the morning the butcher did the duties of his 
office and from that hour until more than high noon the 
porker, spitted in the middle of a fifteen-foot pole, was 
kept slowly revolving over a fire of coals. 



90 Francis Marion Rains 

The tables were arranged in banquet order in the big 
sala of the Mission House; the visitors in the center; the 
missionaries on both sides of them; and the Filipino 
evangelists and their families completing the group. So- 
ciability reigned and at the dramatic moment four husky- 
men, two under each end of the pole and the pig swinging 
between them, came marching up the wide stairs, through 
the door and across the room, the nut-brown porker exuding 
hot grease in a trickling stream until he was deposited on 
the table. The assembled party did the rest. Mr. Rains 
was not a great eater of fat pork, but he was a great maker 
of speeches, and that was one of the times of his life. 

In the evening he attended a mass meeting in the Mis- 
sion Chapel and addressed a general audience. As he spoke 
only in English this address, as all others he made to Fili- 
pino audiences, was translated as delivered. 

As he was to visit all the stations, no time was to be 
lost in pushing forward his program. The trip to the north 
was made by sea. Mr. Rains looked over the boat, and 
then went to arrange for the trip. While in the office some 
one asked him if he were subject to seasickness and he 
replied: "Yes, I get seasick when I go to buy a boat 
ticket. " From Laoag, he was driven to the outstations by 
Dr. Lemmon, and made the trip to Vigan overland. There 
he had the experience of meeting with the annual Mission 
Convention, taking part in the discussion of mission prob- 
lems, and offering helpful suggestions for the transaction 
of mission business. While there he was one evening taken 
to an outstation for a meeting and on the return, while 
walking across an open field, had the thrilling experience 
of being stoned. 

The return to Manila was made overland as much as 
possible. The missionaries thought that before leaving the 
Islands, he should have the thrill of witnessing a cock 
fight. Accordingly, the whole station force escorted him 
and Mrs, Rains to a big cock pit. He mingled with the 



Relation to the Missionaries 91 

motley crowd of Chinese and Filipinos who frequent such 
places, with considerable interest, until he came to the 
gallery where some men were adjusting the gaffs to the 
chickens' spurs. This was too much; he had no heart for 
anything as cruel as that, and since the pleasure of the 
visit was now ended, the party withdrew. 

In all, their stay in the Islands occupied about five 
weeks, and they left for China followed by the good wishes 
and prayers of the entire Mission. The visit had brought 
encouragement and renewed energy to all and the genial 
good nature of Mr. Rains lingers to this day as a pleasant 
recollection with those he visited. 

In a personal way, I felt a deep attachment to Mr. Rains. 
When the time came for me to enter upon what I had for 
years dreamed was to be my life work, I went to Cincin- 
nati and appeared before the Executive Committee of the 
Foreign Society; after the conference, while sitting in the 
office reflecting upon circumstances so full of meaning to 
me, it was he who stepped in and in his kindly way in- 
formed me that I was accepted for foreign service in the 
Philippines. I have always cherished that message and he, 
as the bearer, has had from that day a place distinctly 
his own in my thoughts and affections. I am sure that 
what is true with me must be equally so with many others, 
and I am glad to be one of the number to record this ex- 
pression of highest regard for him as one of my truest 
and best friends. 

Dr. W. N. Lemmon, of Brownfield, Texas, who 
was compelled to leave the Philippines on account 
of ill health, says of Mr. Eains' five weeks spent 
in the Island : 

From his visit we date the foundation laying of the 
Albert Allen Bible College and Dormitory, the germinating 
of the Mary Chiles Hospital and the unification of the 



92 Francis Marion Rains 

Philippine work. When Mr. Kershner returned to America 
for his furlough, Mr. Wolfe and I were left in Manila 
with instructions to find a location for the Albert Allen 
College. Knowing the desires of both Mr. Bains and Mr. 
Kershner, the college was located on Taft Avenue, just 
across from the Philippine University, where they thought 
it should be. Twelve years have come and gone; the Bible 
College is cooperating with the University Seminary; this 
through the continued efforts of Mr. Corey and other mem- 
bers of the Commission, making a strong central plant for 
the entire 3,000 islands, and the Bible being, therefore, 
accessible to all of the tribes. The press has been moved to 
Manila, thus unifying the two fields, with Mr. Hanna in 
charge, doing a valiant and heroic work, Mr. Wolfe having 
paved the way with his former Tagalog paper. The Mary 
Chiles Hospital, which germinated about that time, has 
proved its beneficial influence by ministering to thousands 
and bringing confidence to the people that the mission is 
for their good. 

From the visit of the great missionary statesman, F. 
M. Rains, I feel that the beginning of the new life of the 
Philippine mission can be dated. We cannot and would not 
discount the great work of the Commission (S. J. Corey, 
Prof. W. C. Bower and R. A. Doan) but had it not been 
for the visit of Mr. Rains, they would have had to begin 
where he found us. 

P. A. Davey, who was born in Australia and 
graduated from the College of the Bible, Lexing- 
ton, Kentucky, and who spent about twenty years 
in Japan, speaks of Mr. Eains in relation to the 
missionaries in general and to the work in the 
Sunrise Kingdom: 

As I think of Mr. Rains today in relation to the work 
of the Foreign Christian Missionary Society in Japan, I 



Relation to the Missionaries 93 

think of one who had the deepest interest in the work, and 
who was most devoted to his task in relation to the work 
at the home base. His impress on the work was very much 
deeper than has generally been recognized. He so put his 
life into the enterprise that he identified himself with it, 
but the enterprise was always greater than himself and 
he naturally took his place in it as a man of sane, sagacious 
business sense who looked for results both at home and 
abroad and who honored his co-workers on both sides of the 
water by recognizing the work and worth of all. 

Mr. Rains was a true friend of the missionaries and 
had a real interest in their welfare. He wished them to be 
happy in their home life and to have homes that should be 
havens of rest and good cheer. He had the welfare of all 
the missionaries at heart and was impartial in the interest 
he showed. He did not expect the missionary wife, bur- 
dened with household cares, to also be burdened with many 
mission duties. To a single missionary he said, "You 
should put by at least $50 a month for the future." He 
desired the missionary to have adequate salary. He said, 
"You should read one new book a month." While true to 
the position of the Disciples of Christ in regard to baptism, 
he was broad-minded enough to recommend the Congrega- 
tionalist as a religious weekly one ought to read. He was 
interested in the plans of the individual missionaries and 
of the mission in regard to the development of the work. 
I recollect that on his first visit he took a keen interest 
in the search for land for our educational interests which 
a few years later took shape in the erection first of the 
Boys' School and then of the Girls' School in Takinogawa. 
He sought to get information for the churches at home that 
supply the sinews of war. I believe that while the whole 
work was on his heart he conceived his main task to be 
that of providing men and means for the task abroad. I 
doubt very much whether the educational plant we now 
have in Takinogawa would have come to be, at least until 



94 Francis Marion Bains 

years later, if it had not been for the vision Mr. Bains 
got of the need and the efforts he made to supply it. 

Mr. Eains had a big heart. He was not able to do for 
the missionaries all he would have liked, and doubtless now 
and then a young missionary, before he got a true perspec- 
tive of the whole missionary task, was disappointed because 
he did not get the equipment he wanted, I have always had 
a very great sympathy for Mr. Eains and for Mr. McLean, 
both because they seemed to me to be between the buffers 
of a train, with the criticisms of the reactionary forces of 
missionary unbelief at home on one side, and the mission- 
aries with their great plans which could not be put into 
effect because the churches at home had not caught the 
vision of their task, on the other. 

On his last visit to Japan Mr. Bains was not well. 7-: 
everyone could see how very deeply his heart was set on 
the work to which he had so unsparingly given his life. 
He eould see a wonderful growth along educational lines 
and in material equipment but I imagine he must have been 
disappointed that the growth in direct evangelistic work 
had not been commensurate with the educational work. The 
evangelistic side of the work had not been overlooked but 
there had been peculiar difficulty in Japan in keeping pre- 
pared workers on the field, this being so necessary to con- 
tinuity of effort and permanence of result. He and Mr. 
McLean have had burdens to bear throughout the years of 
which most folks at home not in intimate touch with the 
work little dream. 

Brother Bains, although his work for the cause in Japan 
was mainly in America, put himself into the foundations of 
a work in Japan which we trust shall prove to be a pillar 
in the house of the Lord. 

In the files of the Foreign Society we find a let- 
ter written by Alexander Paul of China, to Mr. 



Relation to the Missionaries 95 

McLean, regarding the visit of Mr. Kains to that 
country : 

I want to say to you that we are delighted with the 
spirit of love and sympathy that Mr. Rains has shown. He 
is entering into our problems in a way that we had thought 
impossible for him or any other man coming from the 
outside to do. His visit is going to do us untold good. 
Already he has cleared up many misunderstandings that 
have existed between you as an executive committee and 
us on the field. We feel that we have seen into Mr. Rains' 
heart and some of us have for the first time seen the love 
and sympathy that are stored up there for us people on 
the field. We admire his frankness. He has talked to us 
very freely and called us down good and hard, but he did 
it in the spirit of Christ. We thank the Father for his 
coming among us. He will not be able to please all, but 
to the great majority of us he will bring you good people 
into a different relationship. We have always loved and 
respected you all, but we have not understood you and we 
feel you have not always understood us. If Mr. Rains 
continues to clear up these misunderstandings, we as a 
mission will be continually grateful to the Father and with 
deeper zeal and consecration seek to carry the message of 
our God to these lost people. 

A. E. Cory, for many years a missionary in 
China and who came home to lead in the Men 
and Millions Movement and later became an im- 
portant factor in the Interchurch World Move- 
ment and one of the secretaries in the United 
Christian Missionary Society, contributes the fol- 
lowing : 

It was my great pleasure to see Mr. Rains on two visits 



96 Francis Marion Rains 

were in China and went with us to our first mission sta- 
tion. His wonderful cheerfulness, his deep sympathy, his 
keen humor cheered the missionaries at ail times. He had 
that rare quality of getting the confidence of the mis- 
sionaries. They talked to him and he with them. His 
criticisms were kindly and came only after he had shown 
full appreciation of their work. He inspired them to larger 
things. He often challenged them to do greater things than 
they had ever thought of doing and at all times he laid 
upon them the need of evangelism. He was able to glorify 
the common task more than any man I have ever known. 
His visit was a benediction. 

Mr. Rains had the rare faculty of seeing things in the 
large. He came to China in 1911 after a visit to the 
other mission fields. China was thinking of her own trou- 
bles. Our missionaries were talking of raising money for 
our own needs. He encouraged this. He was sympathetic 
to every proposition, but he gradually pointed out that 
China ought not to think of herself alone, but that any 
money that was raised ought to be for all of the fields. 

So by great vision, wonderful companionship, and with 
an unbounded faith there grew out of that conference the 
plan for the first Million Dollar Campaign. To Mr. Rains 
more than to any other single individual is due the large 
vision for individual campaigns which has come to the Dis- 
ciples in the last decade. 



CHAPTER SIX 

A DEDICATOR OF CHURCHES 

It would be most interesting if we had a com- 
plete list of the churches dedicated by Mr. Rains, 
Unfortunately, he never kept such a record. "With 
him, when a work was finished that was the end 
of it and he was ready for the next duty. The 
number of such churches has been variously esti- 
mated at from eight hundred to a thousand. 

His first dedication came about in this wise: 
Isaac Errett was to have dedicated the church at 
Lyons, Kansas, in 1883. As Mr. Rains had never 
been to a church dedication, he thought this would 
be a good opportunity to attend one and at the 
same time to hear Mr. Errett. What was his con- 
sternation when he reached Lyons, to learn that 
Mr. Errett was ill and unable to be present, and 
that they were depending upon him to lead in 
providing the money for their new church home. 
He protested that he knew nothing of that form 
of service, but to no avail. M. T. Hough was the 
pastor. I. N. McCash, afterward Secretary of the 
American Christian Missionary Society, and now 
president of Phillips University, Enid, Oklahoma, 
was at that time teaching school in Lyons. Mr. 
Rains, years afterward, in recalling the occasion, 
says of Mr. McCash : ' ' Through his efforts and the 

97 



98 Francis Marion Rains 

little I could do, we raised more than enough. He 
did more than I could do. He was well known in 
the community and commanded a large influence. 
He was not a preacher then; he was a teacher 
and a good one." 

It is interesting to note that in 1906, after hav- 
ing made a reputation as a church dedicator, he 
was recalled to Lyons to assist in the dedication of 
a second building. 

Mr. Eains would leave the office of the Foreign 
Society Friday afternoon or Saturday morning, 
depending upon the distance. Arriving at his 
destination he would call a meeting of the board 
of officers, to lay plans for the campaign to clear 
the church of indebtedness. Saturday night he 
would preach to the church members, striving to 
put them in a hopeful and expectant frame of 
mind. Sunday morning, after a short talk in the 
Sunday school, he would preach on ' ' The Church ' ' 
or "The Kingdom," and then call for cash and 
pledges. He had the faculty of keeping everybody 
in a good humor and seldom failed to secure the 
amount needed. Sunday afternoon was usually 
given over to a fellowship and congratulatory serv- 
ice, participated in by the different religious bodies 
of the place. Sunday evening, Mr. Eains always 
spoke on some phase of world-wide missions, often 
taking a train at the close of the service and being 
at his desk at eight o 'clock the next morning. He 
would work all week and then repeat the process. 



A Dedicator of Churches 99 

This he would do week after week, seemingly know- 
ing no limit to his endurance. 

On these occasions, as well as at other times 
when visiting churches, Mr. Kains did much to 
encourage the pastors, stirring up the churches to 
a proper appreciation of their labors, and as Mr. 
Armistead indicates in another chapter, was the 
means of having the church send the pastor to the 
national conventions, and in many cases release 
him for a year's study in a university. 

Miss Gertrude Smith, of Cincinnati, Ohio, writes 
that Mr. Kains dedicated the church at Massillon, 
Ohio, in 1891, when her father was pastor there, 
and in addition to raising all the money needed, 
suggested that an extra amount be given to send 
Mr. Smith away for a rest. This was done. It 
will be remembered that C. C. Smith, after being 
a successful pastor, became the faithful and be- 
loved Secretary of the Board of Negro Evangeliza- 
tion, and as such made a worthy contribution to 
the missionary work of the Disciples of Christ. 
This good man went to his reward early in 1919, 
and Mr. Rains attended his funeral when scarcely 
able to get about himself. 

George L. Snively, who is having phenomenal 
success in dedicating churches, contributes the fol- 
lowing : 

It is yet difficult for one who knew him well to write 
the biography of Francis M. Rains. 



100 Francis Marion Bains 

So persuasive his presence, so magnetic Ms personality, 
so tense and dominating Ms very aura, we are still under 
the spell of him. Going in and out among us, stilling winds 
and waves, heartening us, ever near us and yet before us 
on the hill just above, he fearlessly called in clarion notes 
with a voice that for a tMrd of a century compelled each 
morning's rear guard of some sector of the Lord's hosts to 
kindle their eveMng fires where the morning vanguard had 
folded their tents. Xone other of our mighty leaders pos- 
sessed his power to make of *'Our Movement" one con- 
tinuous processional toward the great ideal of the uMted 
hosts of the Lord to win all this world for the Christ. 

Only Ms tensely alert and masterful genius for leader- 
ship could best mobilize consecrated resources into irre- 
sistible forces of righteousness and compel them on to 
those incomparable victories starring our Mstory during 
Ms meridian activities. None such preceded him, nor have 
they surpassed him since he laid Ms armor down. One 
familiar blast upon Ms bugle now were worth ten thou- 
sand men. 

It was divine endowment that made Mm one of the 
greatest of all the immortals whose renown has helped 
glorify the great brotherhood he fervently loved and faith- 
fully served. Among the tropMes of Ms distinguished 
career, none is more lustrous than that won in his min- 
istry as a dedicator of churches. In this realm he was 
for a quarter of a century the unrivaled premier. Xo 
biography would be complete without a chapter dealing 
with this phase of Ms versatile gemus and diversified use- 
fulness. It is possible that his contemporaries, L. L. Car- 
penter of the Christian church and Chaplain MeCabe of 
the Methodist bodies, dedicated more buildings than he, 
but the same statistics will show they did not approach him 
in the noble class of buildings dedicated. It is certain 
that he surpassed them in the amount of moMes assembled, 
the number of lives consecrated to God in conjunction with 






A Dedicator of Churches 101 

dedicatorial ceremonies and in the far-reaching and life 
exalting influences radiating out from him when he was 
announced as the dedicator of a new church home. Oh, that 
God would raise up many among us today worthy to bear 
his mantle, capable of doing his work among the churches! 

We are profoundly impressed with his self-dedication 
to God. Had he entered the Temple of Trade, his ships 
would have sailed the Seven Seas. He cared not for silver 
or gold save as they advanced the boundaries of the King- 
dom of Heaven. Had he sought Caesar first, he would 
have sat down with the Councilors of State, but he saw in 
Caesar only a peace officer guarding the outer approaches 
to the sanctuary. Had he been a devotee of technical learn- 
ing, volumes in lecture rooms would have borne his imprint 
on worn bindings, and his name would flash in foot note 
references in scholarly treatises. But he humbly sought to 
learn the way of the Lord more perfectly and to build 
homes where His Word might be taught and His Spirit be 
more thoroughly inculcated. Yes, on the altar of self- 
dedication he renounced all ambitions leading to the labora- 
tory, counting room, or to halls of earthly fame. 

He was possessed of an unfaltering faith in a God who 
delights to so intervene in human affairs as to change im- 
pending dedication defeats into victorious, joyous festivals. 
On hundreds of occasions he has stood amidst prophets of 
disaster and through the power of an all-conquering faith 
has compelled gifts from hands reluctant at first till made 
to feel they were giving to Him with whom they would have 
to do in the inevitable final accounting. 

Among the endowments qualifying him for his position 
as America's premier dedicator were cheerfulness and 
friendliness. In olden times ' ' stranger ' ' and ' ' enemy ' ' 
were synonymous. In Francis Rains' lexicon "acquaint- 
ance" and "friend" were practically so. Congregations 
were his friends. Oftentimes, as at Lyons, Kansas, he 
dedicated the church reared by a handful of charter mem- 



102 Francis Marion Rains 

bers. Years afterward, that congregation would build coni- 
niensuratelv with its multiplied numbers and wealth. Many 
times the friends of earlier years would have him recalled 
to dedicate the nobler temple. 

He was not frivolous, but one of his Father's merriest 
children. He bubbled over with cheerfulness. Into the 
serious business of urging men to fill to its overflowing 
brim the last full measure of devotion to God he would 
bring laughter and hilariousness, dispelling fears and 
pessimism, and in this characteristic atmosphere of friend- 
liness and cheerfulness he wrought the magic success. 

He never exalted money to first place among earthly 
values. He taught and practiced the doctrine that money 
should be men's servant, not their master. He never wor- 
shiped money, he used it. He was not an ascetic. He lived 
well himself and delighted in seeing others comfortably 
situated, but he protested alike against the hoarding of 
gold or its misuse in luxurious living or wastefulness. 
You are not your own, all you are and have are His, hav- 
ing been bought with the blood of Jesus. Believing and 
practicing this doctrine and advocating it with fiery, im- 
petuous eloquence, it is little wonder that men under 
the spell he cast over great crowds made restitution to God 
and redeemed his churches from the thrall of debt. 

Mr. Eains had a faith like unto Paul's and he possessed 
a Christlike optimism. He had the power to see tulips 
where others could see only the unlovely bulbs. While 
others could see only a little band toiling painfully up the 
long hill of debt, he could see that church redeemed unto 
the Lord, its numbers multiplied, their hearts purified from 
earth 's dross, its debts vanished. He could hear the peni- 
tent 's voice in the midst of the congregation, and the songs 
of praise and shouts of joy. This faculty of beholding 
laden orchards where others saw only apple seeds gave him 
almost magical power to impel the people on to the second 
mile. 



A Dedicator of Churches 103 

He rejoiced in and encouraged the successes of other 
dedicators, thus multiplying his own golden sheaves. I 
greatly prize one of the last letters he ever penned. In 
congratulating me over having assisted Mark Collis at the 
dedication of the Broadway Christian Church home, Lex- 
ington, Kentucky, he was magnanimous enough to add: 
"That is the largest amount ever assembled at the dedica- 
tion of one of our churches, and now that my strength is 
failing I am depending on you to carry on my dedicatory 
ministry among the churches. ' ' 

Doubtless on through the ages, our churches shall prac- 
tice this beautiful dedicatorial formula arranged by Mr. 
Rains : 

' ' We now set apart this house to the worship of the living 
and true God and to the service of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
We devote it to the preaching of the gospel of the grace 
of God for the conversion of sinners and to the education 
of Christians in a knowledge of spiritual truth, in all the 
graces of Christian character and in all the activities of 
Christian life. Here shall the incense of prayer and praise 
ascend to God. Here shall the ordinances of the Lord's 
house be sacredly observed. Here shall the word of God 
which liveth and abideth forever be sounded out for the 
salvation of the perishing, and shine as a perpetual light 
to guide God's pilgrims through the night of time to the 
light of everlasting glory. Here may children of sin and 
sorrow find a refuge from despair and ruin, and Christians 
a harbor to which they can resort when the tempest is 
high and still be safe. Here in the hearts of humble wor- 
shipers may the Holy Spirit find a temple, and the doctrine 
of God's word distil upon waiting and thirsty spirits, as 
the rain upon the mown grass and as the showers that water 
the earth; so that righteousness may flourish and holiness 
abound and all the rich fruit of the Spirit be yielded in a 
blessed harvest to the praise of God. May no discordant 



104 Francis Marion Rains 

note of strife ever be heard within these walls, no unholy- 
spirit of pride or worldliness find entrance here; but may 
the faith, out of which all goodness springs, the hope which 
purifies and comforts the sorrowing heart and the love 
which honors God, blesses man and binds Christians in 
blessed fellowship ever inspire and sway the hearts and lives 
of those who worship here, so that with one mind and heart 
they may strive together for the faith delivered, and let 
their light so shine that others seeing their good works 
may glorify our Father who is in Heaven. 

"May these earthly courts be as the holy place in the 
temple, separated only by a veil from the holiest of all, 
in which the royal priests of the house of God may trim the 
golden lamp, eat of the bread of life and burn incense at 
the golden altar; and thus drawing near to God with true 
hearts in full assurance of faith may they be prepared to 
enter finally 'within the veil,' to rejoice in the presence 
of God, where there is fullness of joy, and at His right 
hand where there are blessings forever more. 

"And may God graciously accept this offering of a house 
in His name — an offering made by grateful hearts and will- 
ing hands — and bless every heart that shares in this gift. 
And when, one by one, those who have shared in this serv- 
ice shall be taken from these earthly scenes and leave a 
vacant seat, may they find a yet more blessed home in that 
house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, where 
the worshipers shall go out no more forever. May mul- 
titudes here be born to God, so that when all these here 
today shall have gone to their eternal home, others will 
take up the service and repeat from generation to genera- 
tion the old, old story of the cross, the songs of Zion and 
the prayers of saints until Jesus comes, and all His re- 
deemed are gathered home. 

1 ' We give thanks to God that His people have been able 
to offer willingly after this sort. We invoke His blessings 
on the labor of their hands. And we commit to His holy 



A Dedicator of Churches 



105 



care and keeping all the interests connected with this re- 
ligious enterprise. May the beauty of the Lord our God 
be upon us. And establish Thou the work of our hands 
upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it. Let 
this house be a home for the stranger, a place of welcome 
and comfort for the poor, a consolation for the distressed 
and a place of salvation for the sinner. Let it be a place 
for the guidance of youth, for the consolation of age, for 
the good of men and women and for the glory of God." 

I hesitate to insert this incomplete list of new church 
homes he dedicated, but it will illustrate the wide scope 
of his ministry, and awaken some fond memories: — 



Augusta, Georgia 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
Ft. Worth, Texas 
Salem, Illinois 
Jackson, Illinois 
Shelbyville, Indiana 
Mobile, Alabama 
Larned, Kansas 
Boone, Iowa 
Atwood, Kansas 
Ada, Ohio 

Junction City, Kansas 
New London, Missouri 
Beatrice, Nebraska 
Lawrence, Kansas 
Robinson, Illinois 
Ottumwa, Iowa 
Sioux City, Iowa 
Atlanta, Georgia 
Youngstown, Ohio 
London, Kentucky 
Rushville, Indiana 
Neosho, Missouri 



Mason, Kentucky 

Findlay, Ohio 

Chester, Nebraska 

Hutchinson, Kansas 

Independence, Missouri 

Memphis (McLemore), Ten- 
nessee 

Kansas City (Jackson Ave- 
nue), Missouri 

Cleveland (Aetna), Ohio 

Norman, Oklahoma 

Petersburg, Illinois 

Columbus (Wilson Avenue), 
Ohio 

Bethany (University), Ne- 
braska 

Cincinnati (Oakley), Ohio 

McConnelsville, Ohio 

Roanoke, Virginia 

Lexington (Maxwell Street), 
Kentucky 

Robinson, Kentucky 

Lebanon, Kansas 



106 



Francis Marion Bains 



Dodge City, Kansas 

Cleveland (Euclid Avenue), 
Ohio 

Cleveland (Broadway), Ohio 

Delavan, Illinois 

Berry, Kentucky 

Raritan, Illinois 

Cincinnati (Fergus Street), 
Ohio 

Maryville, Missouri 

Washington, Pennsylvania 

Brazil, Indiana 

Winchester, Kentucky 

Omaha (First), Nebraska 

Omaha (South), Nebraska 

Fredonia, Kansas 

Logansport, Indiana 

Broken Bow, Nebraska 

Coshocton, Ohio 

Lakewood, Ohio 

St. Louis (Maplewood), 
Missouri 

Plum Creek, Indiana 

Shoals, Indiana 

Richmond, Kentucky 

Colfax, Indiana 

Columbus, Ohio 

Indianapolis (Third), In- 
diana 

Norwood, Ohio 

Quincy, Illinois 

Moreland, Kentucky 

Sidney, Ohio 

Manhattan, Kansas 

Amarillo, Texas 

Bethany, West Virginia 



Owenton, Kentucky 
Atlantic, Indiana 
Dallas (Oak Cliff), Texas 
Wichita (Lawrence Avenue), 

Kansas 
Danbury, Connecticut 
Elliott, Iowa 
La Plata, Missouri 
Sardinia, Ohio 
Osceola, Iowa 
Frankford, Missouri 
Athens, Ohio 
Shelbyville, Missouri 
Augusta, Kansas 
Prairie City, Iowa 
Lyons, Kansas (1886-1906) 
Grenola, Kansas 
Wellington, Kansas 
South Haven, Kansas 
Coffeyville, Kansas 
Cameron, Missouri 
Soldier, Kansas 
Junction City, Missouri 
Elk City, Kansas 
New London, Missouri 
Amazonia, Missouri 
Turner, Missouri 
Linneus, Nebraska 
Hebron, Nebraska 
Hastings, Nebraska 
Delphos, Iowa 
Clinton, Illinois 
Westmoreland, Kansas 
Dayton, Ohio 
Red Cloud, Nebraska 



A Dedicator of Churches 



107 



Kansas City (Forest Ave- 
nue), Missouri 
Dennison, Texas 
Wheeling, Missouri 
Kansas City, Kansas 
Hannibal, Missouri 
Colorado Springs, Colorado 
Leroy, Illinois 
Jacksonville, Illinois 
Hopkinsville, Kentucky 
Jackson, Mississippi 
Poplar Bluff, Missouri 
Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania 
Mt. Olivet, Kentucky 
Newton Falls, Ohio 
Jacksonville, Florida 
Louisville, Kentucky 
Paragould, Arkansas 
Carterville, Illinois 
Laredo, Ohio 
Colfax, Illinois 
Tipton, Indiana 
Bellevue, Kentucky 
Laurens, Iowa 
Hillsboro, Texas 
Dallas, Texas 
Gainesville, Texas 
Moberly, Missouri 
Tina, Missouri 
Mason, Iowa 
Butler, Missouri 
Hedrick, Iowa 
Lincoln, Nebraska 
Sadieville, Kentucky 



Oskaloosa, Iowa 

Odessa, Missouri 

Decatur, Illinois 

Mt. Carmel, Illinois 

Minneapolis, (Portland Ave- 
nue), Minnesota 

Kansas City (South Pros- 
pect), Missouri 

St. Louis, (Tuxedo Place), 
Missouri 

Keokuk, Iowa 

Noblesville, Indiana 

Steubenville, Ohio 

Barry, Illinois 

Massillon, Ohio 

Crawfordsville, Indiana 

Madison, Indiana 

North Tonawanda, New 
York 

Dallas (East Side), Texas 

La Plata, Missouri 

Eushsylvania, Ohio 

Springfield, Illinois 

St. Joseph, Missouri 

St. Louis (Union Avenue 
Sunday School), Missouri 

Lawrenceburg, Indiana 

Chicago (Englewood), Illi- 
nois 

Trenton, Missouri 

Higginsville, Missouri 

Kokomo, Indiana 

Perry, Missouri 

Mexico, Missouri 



These are only a few of the hundreds along his ded- 
icatorial trail, leading from Boston Bay to the Golden 



108 Francis Marion Bains 

Gate, and from the snowy plains of the Canadas to lands 
laved by the warm waters of the Southern Gulf. 

Here too, it should be recorded, these herculean efforts 
were purely works of love. His financial compensation for 
them with scrupulous care was assigned to the treasury of 
the church societies with which he was identified. His 
earnings as a dedicator frequently more than paid his 
salary as Secretary of the Foreign Christian Missionary 
Society. 

Never again will the silvery voice of the great dedicator 
ring out over multitudes expecting the miraculous of him. 
O, for one more flash of wit, another wondrous smile, an 
old time appeal clothed in the fire of ancient Israel's 
prophets! Once again let us hear the familiar hurrying 
of feet, the clinking coins, rings and jewels, and the 
shout of victory ! Enter thou into nobler temple than human 
voice can dedicate, that other building of God, that house 
not made with hands, eternal in the heavens! 

A unique dedicatory service and one in which 
Mr. Rains took great interest was that of the 
steamship Oregon, which took place in the ship- 
yards at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, during the Cen- 
tennial convention of 1909. 

In 1897 Mr. Eains had gone to Boston with E. 
E. Faris of Texas and Dr. Harry N. Biddle of 
Cincinnati, Ohio, to see them embark on that long 
journey to Africa. As the great boat swung out 
into the bay, he had mingled feelings of anxiety 
for the young men who were going, with such 
brave hearts and high courage, to what was an un- 
known land to the Disciples of Christ, and pride 
in the fact that another great mission field was to 






A Dedicator of Churches 109 

be opened — the first since his connection with the 
Foreign Christian Missionary Society. 

Twelve years had passed. Sorrow and joy had 
come to the African mission. Dr. Biddle had died 
of tropical fever, and been buried in the Canary 
Islands, before the mission site had been located at 
Bolenge. But recruits had been sent and the mis- 
sion was well established. 

Great need was found for a steamer to carry the 
missionaries and supplies from place to place. Af- 
ter hearing Dr. and Mrs. Royal J. Dye at the 
Oregon Convention, the people of that State agreed 
to provide such a steamer, and most of the money 
was given by them. At the dedication service 
money was raised to transport the boat to the 
Congo. After taking pledges, dollars were show- 
ered on the deck as the lights were turned on and 
the crowd sang, "Let the Lower Lights be Burn- 
ing." 

While Mr. Rains had many calls for dedications 
in the last few years of his life, he was obliged to 
decline them in order to conserve his health. So 
far as can be learned his last dedication was the 
Oak Cliff Church, Dallas, Texas, in September, 
1916. 



CHAPTER SEVEN 

AS AN EVANGELIST 

Several have spoken of the evangelistic meetings 
held by Mr. Rains during his student days as well 
as when State Secretary of Kansas. He took delight 
in recalling how while in college he and Julius 
Kendrick held a meeting in a small country church 
in Kentucky for two weeks, one doing the preach- 
ing and the other leading the singing. At the close 
of the meeting, they were given $6.25, " which," he 
said, "was probably all it was worth." Upon an- 
other occasion, after having hired a horse and 
buggy to convey him to an appointment, one of the 
members took him behind the church building and 
in a very confidential manner informed him that 
he believed in supporting the preacher and wanted 
to make a contribution. Mr. Rains had visions of 
at least $5.00, when he was handed fifty cents! 
This was all he received. 

E. B. Barnes, of Cleveland, Ohio, for a number 
of years a successful pastor and writer, describes 
Mr. Rains as an evangelist. 

Mr. Rains was a born evangelist. Successful as he 
was in the many offices he filled, I believe he would 
have been a history-making evangelist had his energies 
been wholly devoted to that work. It was in the 
evangelistic field while state evangelist of Kansas that 
he attracted the attention of the brotherhood, and that 
attention he held to the last. 
110 



As an Evangelist 111 

Although born in Kentucky Mr. Eains was a man of 
the West. That section of our country left deep im- 
pressions upon him. He had the ease and freedom which 
are associated with our prairie states. There was never 
anything aloof about him; he revealed himself in his 
sermons, in the home and in what he wrote. He was as 
much at home before an audience as in a pastor's study. 
He never had a case of fl nerves'' when he arose to speak. 
Neither the crowd nor the individual were strangers to 
him long. He was probably the best known man in our 
brotherhood. He could never be a man of mystery. 

The College of the Bible, which Mr. Eains attended, 
has always kept two ideals to the front; the first is to give 
the student a thorough knowledge of the Bible; and the 
seeond is to teach the young preacher how to preach. 
Those ideals are paramount there until this day. Two 
factors favor the student-preacher there — a fine type of 
Southern oratory prevails; and many churches are 
within easy reach of Lexington where the rising minister 
may have ample opportunities to exercise his gifts. 
Many of the older members of such congregations point 
with pride to the "big'* preachers they have made, 
while the preachers delight to refer to the beginnings 
of their ministry at the Cross Roads church. Whatever 
may be thought of the merits of student-preaching, 
there are many congregations which could not exist with- 
out such; anything mature being beyond their ability to 
secure, and if the wisdom of the student-preacher is not 
profound he is likely to impart a degree of enthusiasm 
and vigor to the congregation which atones for the many 
defects of inexperience. His ignorance of a hundred 
subjects makes him magnificently fearless, while his 
denunciation of sin saves many a sinner from his down- 
ward career. The only way to learn to preach is to 
preach, and Mr. Eains learned how at Lexington. 



112 Francis Marion Rains 

Nature bestowed her gifts reluctantly on our great 
missionary bishop and associate of Mr. Eains, Archibald 
McLean, but Nature was generous with her gifts to Mr. 
Eains. He had what we call in these days a fine ap- 
proach to people of all classes. Very few ever felt that 
there were any barriers to be removed between them 
and Mr. Eains. At once a community of interest was 
established. It was as true when he was in the pulpit. 
He knew how to present his cause. In the business 
world he would have been a great salesman. The same 
gift was invaluable to him as a preacher and evangelist. 

He was gifted with more than his share of enthusiasm. 
He had enough of that rare quality for a dozen men. 
I doubt whether there has ever been a man among us 
who, as an enthusiast, could approach him. Crowds were 
moved by his enthusiasm under the most adverse condi- 
tions. Opposition was broken down under its spell. It 
is one of the essentials in this world which must be in- 
herent like the gift of music. Cultivation will do some- 
thing, but as a rule, it must come from outside, and unless 
carefully guarded it leads to all the excesses of fanati- 
cism, but under restraint it is one of the greatest boons 
to man. Who has not felt that power when Mr. Eains 
was on a convention platform, at a dedication, or in a 
revival meeting? How flat and stale the proceedings 
after Mr. Eains had concluded his address or sermon. 
He set the occasion on fire and made ordinary days the 
memory of a lifetime. The ice of conventionality melted 
under the warmth of this genial soul. He regarded the 
proprieties of the hour, but proprieties were not allowed 
to become the grave of power for him. 

His voice was a great asset, and what delight he took 
in taxing it to the utmost! It was a wonderful organ 
to endure unbroken to the end of his public ministry. 
It could be heard in the ordinary conversational tones, 



As an Evangelist 113 

no matter how large the auditorium, while the higher 
ranges were impressive in their power. 

When Mr. Rains was driving home some lesson with 
his trip-hammer voice, there was never a listless hearer. 
In quality it was a tenor or high baritone. I have heard 
him at times when the voice was like the rising and 
falling of a bird against a head wind. It was equal 
to every occasion. It was not Websterian, neither did 
it possess any of the velvet-smoothness of the flute, yet 
for work it did all that was demanded of it, an enormous 
amount of work, and never flagged. It was just the 
voice needed to convey those messages of tremendous 
power and enthusiasm. 

He had the two gifts which every orator must have, 
pathos and humor. If a man have the one, he is certain 
to have the other. The great humorists of the world 
were often men of broken hearts. They knew how to 
live above the clouds, and to dwell in the somber regions 
of the valley. Mr. Eains knew how to make people 
laugh and how to make them cry. 

"With such gifts how could he help being a great 
evangelist? He lived just a little after the theatrical 
stage of our evangelism had passed, and a little too 
early to benefit by the revolutionary methods of organ- 
ized evangelism. His forte was to preach first principles, 
enforced by homely illustrations and then to exhort 
as though everything depended upon the exhortation. 
And he could exhort! Seldom have I heard any evan- 
gelist who was his equal. The fine old art is passing 
away, the preacher is not moved to tears, and the con- 
verts "join the church" or sign a card, and the pro- 
ceedings are entirely regular. But Mr. Eains, like Gipsy 
Smith, kept alive the power of the exhortation and 
sinners were moved to repentance. If only he could 
have been printed as well as the sermon what power 
those sermons would lend to the preachers of today! 



114 Franc Rains 

The sermon is dull type without the man behind it. But 
every sermon that Mr. Bains preaehed in a protracted 
neeciig thrilled with life and power. He pnt himself 
into the message if ever a man did. 

I —15 vriTJi iim in cne :f :1c- grea: nee:iugs :f Lis 
:areer in :he earlv nixeries. fell;— lr_g s. ieiicarlcn 
which in 11117 — .:7s — cs remarhahle. An::her large 
eongregation in the town a few weeks before had failed 
to raise any considerable amount of money at its dedica- 
tion services conducted by one of its most prominent 
ministers of that section. Mr. Bains made our dedi- 
catory services seem easy. The day was a great vic-tory. 
Then the meeting in a most conservative wmmiinity 
reachei all classes :z recrjle. ani tie hixse —as cr; — iei 
nigh: af:er nigh:. I i; nc: recall ;, sxirhc: ~ hich ::xli 
be called sensational, or a single sermon-subject, m 1x7 
striking passages or treatment of subjects; 7e: the in- 
tense earnestness and enthusiasm of the evangelist w ere 
sufficient to make everybody talk about the mee:iug. 
to bring the crowds who are interested in the latest 
novelty, as well as to keep the rank and file of :he 
membership in their places every night. It was cne :: 
those meetings which brings to eonvietion the men and 
women who have been regular churchgoers, :he ones 
who have withstood many evangelistic efforts ana ex- 
hortations of pastors, ani e~en en:hre households into 
the Khngiini. Shamerei imen zhshins ~ ere resmrei. 
hi ice:; —ere naii. irchen men —ere s:ar:ei ane~ :n 
the upward way, the rich ani :he | : :r alihe sang ' 'Blest 
be the tie that binds," ani a ne~ era came :: the ::m- 
1:1:7. The evingelis: mile 1 name f:r himself :ha: 
vras l:ng rememicrei. What he iii :here he hi in a 
large degTee in other communities. The opportunity 
was as much a feast of soul fox him as for those to w] 
he spoke. The events of his life eonspired to make him 
an evangelist had he not chosen :: use his wonderful 



As an Evangelist 115 

gifts in the cause of world-wide missions the greater 
part of his life. 

Mr. Eains was deeply touched by the Foreign Mis- 
sionary cause. He came to love it supremely. It had a 
wonderful effect upon his own spiritual nature, for in 
that work he mellowed until he spoke on so many oc- 
casions with tenderness and tears. He spent his days 
with a great co-worker, Archibald McLean, whose shadow, 
like that of Peter's, fell upon all his associates, and who, 
more than most men in our ranks, had learned the secret 
of abiding under the shadow of the Almighty, and im- 
parted something of that secret to others. 

Mr. Rains never lost his passion for preaching. 
In his later years he longed for the opportunity 
to study and preach. Carl Agee, the beloved pas- 
tor of the Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, Church of 
Christ, who has been released for a year 's vacation 
to pursue some studies in Yale University, writes 
of the influence of Mr. Eains upon his own life, 
and gives an account of an evangelistic meeting 
held for the church at Flat Rock, a well-to-do com- 
munity twelve miles from Paris, Kentucky. This 
was perhaps, the first meeting he had held in 
twenty-five years, and lasted for two weeks in the 
month of August, being a part of his vacation. 

Mr. Eains was the cause of my going to Flat Rock 
in the first place. Before that I was teaching and 
preaching; majoring in teaching and minoring in preach- 
ing. My going there was the beginning of my full-time 
ministry. 

J. C. Ogden (of Tibet) was announced to speak for 
us one Sunday in April of the spring, 1913, but could 
not come. Mr. Rains came to take his place, and I re- 



116 Francis Marion Rains 

member he introduced his address by saying he was not 
worthy to stoop down and unloose the shoe-latchets of 
Mr. Ogden. He was at his best that day, and I have 
never seen a congregation more deeply moved. That 
afternoon, with several of the men of the church, we 
visited old Cane Ridge and the tomb of Barton W. Stone. 
It was there that we asked Mr. Rains if he would consider 
holding us a meeting that summer, and he consented. 

That meeting will long be remembered by the people 
of Flat Rock community. Many of the older members of 
the church often remarked that it was their greatest 
meeting. Some of us were a bit apprehensive concerning 
Mr. Rains' power of individual appeal, after having been 
so closely identified with the Foreign Society for such a 
long time. In a very few days this feeling was all gone, 
and he was enjoying a hearty response from everyone. 
He stirred that community in a wonderful way. Fifty- 
two responded to the invitation. An aged mother and 
her four strong sons were baptized together. A father 
in his seventieth year walked down the aisle hand in 
hand with his daughter. He emphasized strongly the 
individual nature of religion and the power of the gospel. 

At the same time he stressed the function of the 
church and its obligation to serve the community. Before 
the meeting closed a movement was well under way to erect 
a beautiful parsonage, and before a year had passed 
the church had doubled its budget and decided to occupy 
the full time of their minister instead of half time. 

My training up to that time had been very scant and 
unsatisfactory, and several times he would say, "Agee, 
how old are you?" I would answer, " Twenty-four, ' ' 

and he would say, "Well, now, there is , who 

didn't go to college until after he was twenty-five and 
he has made good. Go to college." Since then I have 
spent six years in college and university and I feel that 
he had a great part in that. I am sitting here in my 



As an Evangelist 117 

study this afternoon in New England, writing my gradu- 
ation thesis in a great university; thus realizing a dream 
of my youth, largely because of the friendship and ad- 
vice of Mr. Eains. I loved him like a father and re- 
spected his judgment and goodness absolutely. 

When Mr. Rains returned from, his visit to the 
mission fields in 1911, it was found that he was 
anemic and while, from time to time, he was built 
up apparently to normal strength and able to do 
a vast amount of work, at the same time the cold 
winters were very trying for him, and the work 
of the Foreign Society was planned so that he 
could spend that period in the South, where he 
visited conventions, colleges, assisted many 
churches in reaching the Living Link standard and 
held some evangelistic meetings. In all of these 
services he took every opportunity of advancing 
the foreign missionary cause. 

In 1915 he held a short meeting with what was 
at that time a small and struggling church at 
Miami, Florida, making a short trip to Cuba at 
the close, in the interest of the mission there. 

In November, 1917, he attended the state con- 
ventions of North and South Carolina, Georgia, 
Florida, Alabama and Mississippi and during that 
Winter and Spring held meetings for the churches 
at Montgomery, Alabama; Yaldosta, Georgia; 
Meridian, Mississippi and the Woodland Park 
Church, Lexington, Kentucky. Mr. E. T. Ed- 
monds, pastor of the latter church, has written as 
follows : 



118 Francis Marion Bains 

I was talking a few days ago with Professor J. W. 
Porter, about the meeting that F. M. Eains held for the 
Woodland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky, 
at the close of May, 1918. Professor Porter was rather 
averse to having Mr. Rains hold this meeting for he 
thought he would talk about missions to the exclusion 
of other types of teaching more adapted to the 
revival. But he and others had all their misgivings 
on this point thoroughly dissipated. Mr. Rains preached 
along the lines peculiar to Disciples in evangelistic work. 
But he did not confine himself to that line of preach- 
ing. Pretty much every phase of practical Christianity 
was included in his series of sermons. I had been 
reading in the months preceding the meeting several 
books that were at that time popular among all preach- 
ers. I found Mr. Rains quite conversant with this type 
of literature. It showed itself not only in special quo- 
tations but in the general fibre of his preaching. 

I had known Mr. Rains in the beginning of his public 
life and through the intervening years, not intimately, 
but in a way that gave me a good opportunity to watch 
his growth in mind and heart. But few men I suppose 
ever made greater use of natural endowments than did 
Mr. Rains. The raw and unpolished youth developed 
into a great statesman for the Kingdom. "Twelve men 
did once hold together, and the whole face of the world 
was changed." And thank God that in their own day 
Rains, McLean and others inspired men to repeat the 
triumphs of the first apostles of the faith. 

That Mr. Rains had clear-cut ideas on the sub- 
ject of how to conduct evangelistic meetings, as 
well as how to get a missionary offering, is evi- 
denced by the following taken from a paper pub- 
lished while he was State Secretary of Kansas : 



As an Evangelist 119 

F. M. Bains, who is one of our most efficient revival- 
ists in the state, sets forth the following points as 
necessary to success in a protracted meeting: 

1. Let the church be ready for the meeting. Let 
every member of the church so arrange his business that 
he can be in regular attendance, and also give some time 
to the meeting in inducing his neighbors to be present. 
If the church is ready and willing to work, the success of 
the meeting is almost assured. 

2. Have good singing. I mean sing old and familiar 
songs and get as many as possible to sing. This is no time 
to practice new songs and to make a display in the 
music. There is power for good in songs; utilize this 
power. Be in earnest and sing in earnest. Do not let 
the singing drag. Do not start the songs too high or 
too low. 

3. Commence on time. Do not wait for people to come 
if the hour has arrived to begin. The way to begin is 
to begin. 

4. Have short scriptural readings, short prayers, and 
short sermons. 

5. Preach so as to make men feel the need of a 
Savior. Teach men much of sin and its effects and 
point them to the source of cleansing. Get them willing 
to be saved and then tell them how. Do not abuse any- 
body, but preach the truth with power. Make men feel 
that you are preaching the truth, and that the truth 
alone can save. 

6. Pay the preacher for his labor, and have the money 
ready when the meeting closes. Do not take up a public 
collection at the close or at any time during the meet- 
ing. Determine on how much you ought to pay, and 
then pay it. Do not be afraid of paying too much, but 
be much afraid of paying too little. It is better to 
have an understanding with the preacher as to the 
amount to be paid before the meeting begins. 



CHAPTER EIGHT 

AS A FEIEND 

J. D. Armistead, pastor of the church at Cyn- 
thiana, Kentucky, and at one time pastor of the 
Norwood, Ohio, church, pays the following tribute 
to Mr. Rains : 

A popular writer, Charles Kingsley, once said, "Make 
a rule, and pray God to help you keep it, never, if 
possible to lie down at night without being able to say, 
'I have made one human being, at least, a little wiser, 
a little happier or a little better this day.' You will 
find it easier than you think, and pleasanter. ' ' F. M. 
Rains could come as nearly doing this as anyone whom 
I have known. To be with him during any day was to 
be made "a little wiser, a little happier, or a little 
better. ' ' One of the first things that he learned was 
to love well. It was out of a big heart that his kindly 
words of wisdom and helpfulness came. To many who 
were acquainted with him as a missionary leader, he 
was probably more often thought of as an expert in 
inducing Christian people to give money, but to many 
who knew the inner side of his life, and had the oppor- 
tunity to know him as a friend, the big-heartedness 
of the man was seen as the secret of his success in 
raising money. 

F. M. Rains was a big man in both mind and heart. 
His relation to the Kingdom was not due to his skill in 
getting money, but to his love for God and men. 
Even today I thrill with the recollection of how his soul 
was moved when he talked of the environment in which 
our missionaries lived. "Heathenism, heathenism every- 
where!" he would say, and tears would course down 
120 



As a Friend 121 

his cheeks. Public speakers can move themselves to 
tears with their own utterances, but these tears came in 
a private Conversation. Whether dedicating a church 
or appealing for higher ideals for another year of mission- 
ary campaign he always spoke out of love for the cause. 

However, love for the Kingdom found very concrete 
expression in his love for his brethren. In his last 
hours his true self found words when he said to his 
saintly friend, A. McLean, "I love the brethren, I love 
the brethren." Then turning to members of his family 
he said of A. McLean, with broken and feeble voice,, "I 
have known him forty years and I love him with unceasing 
love. ' ' Outside of his family, perhaps he loved no one as he 
did Archibald McLean, his comrade for twenty-six years. 
As one who was associated with him for a number 
of years as a member of the executive committee of the 
Foreign Christian Missionary Society, it was a delight 
and an inspiration to see the love he bore for our 
apostle of missions. In spite of differences in tempera- 
ment A. McLean and F. M. Eains loved one another 
like David and Jonathan. 

In the beginning of my ministry it became my good 
fortune to become the pastor of F. M. Eains, a privilege 
which brought life-long blessings to me. Because I was 
a young and inexperienced preacher at that time, and 
became attached to him as a warm friend,, I have been 
asked to give some of the ways in which he showed his 
friendship for a young preacher. Such a recollection 
of his kindliness in those days should have its influence 
in the lives of others who are entering upon that same 
holy calling. 

The first expression of his friendship came when 
friendship was sorely needed. My first pastorate having 
had a brief and troubled course, I found myself spend- 
ing Christmas at my father's home, wondering if I had 
not mistaken my call. I wrote F. M. Rains telling him 



122 Francis Marion Bains 

I was at home with no place to preach. He wrote im- 
mediately for me to come to Norwood, Ohio, that he needed 
a pastor. Shall I ever forget the joy that letter brought? 
Inasmuch as his relation to the Foreign Society often 
caused him to be absent on Sunday and throughout the 
week, it happened that he was not present when I 
preached for the church my trial sermon. Before he 
returned I had decided that I was not qualified to meet 
the needs of the church, and so notified the officers. Having 
nothing else to do I agreed to remain and preach for 
the church the following Sunday. On Saturday night 
F. M. Eains came home. He learned my decision, and 
sat up with me until midnight until he had put confi- 
dence in my heart, and changed the whole aspect of my 
future, persuading me to be willing to accept a call if 
one were given. It was given the next morning, and I 
entered upon my work as pastor of the Norwood Church 
simply because he had befriended one who needed a 
friend. Some of us go through life trying to do the 
things our friends believe we can do, rather than the 
things that appear possible to ourselves. "Give a man 
one friend who can understand him, who," said Hammer- 
ton, "will not leave him, who will always be accessible 
day and night, one friend, one kindly listener, just one, 
and the whole universe is changed." 

F. M. Rains knew how to encourage his pastor. It 
is a trying ordeal often to a young preacher to have 
some able preacher frequently in his audience. But 
this was never true where one preached to this man, who 
was always the preacher's friend. He seemed always to 
appreciate the situation and have just the right word to 
offer at the close of the church service. Instead of one 
feeling that his immature message was meeting with a 
cold reception, some passage in the sermon would be 
particularly referred to as especially helpful. No preacher 



As a Friend 123 

ever had a more interested and helpful listener than he 
who preached to F. M. Eains. 

Not only did he encourage his preacher with com- 
mendation upon his sermons, but he would invite him 
over to supper where matters that pertain to the King- 
dom, and which are so dear to the heart of every 
preacher, might be discussed at length. 

Just here lies one of the best opportunities that older 
ministers can offer to young brethren beginning their 
work. Nothing is so helpful to a young preacher as the 
friendship of an older man in the ministry whose mind 
is not closed to new ideas, who will listen patiently and 
sympathetically to the thoughts that often seem to 
a young man to be of vital importance to the church, 
and which he feels the need of making clear even to him- 
self by friendly conference. Many older men have 
grown to view the work of the church very differently 
from their early days, yet refrain from giving utterance 
to these changes of thought, especially from the plat- 
form. They may do an inestimable amount of good 
by their sympathetic listening to the ideas of younger 
men. By so doing they will be able to correct many 
of the fanciful notions of the inexperienced and at the 
same time wisely guide in moulding the thought of a 
new day. For lack of some such friend doubtless many 
young men in the ministry fail to develop with the 
increasing light of the bigger day. F. M. Eains was 
always on the alert to lend a listening ear to those whom 
he regarded to be wise and ambitious young men of the 
church. 

In harmony with this expression of his friendship 
was his interest in the reading of his friends. He read 
good books, late in date and ideas, and gave them to 
his friends. How sweet is the association of old books 
and old friends. Looking over the books on my shelf, 



124 Francis Marion Rains 

those that came from the hand and the heart of F. M. 
Eains have a special value now. 

It is impossible to think of our national con- 
ventions without thinking of F. M. Eains. He loved 
these gatherings of the brotherhood as places where 
he met his friends, and where annual forward steps 
were taken in the work of the Kingdom. He constantly 
advocated attendance upon these meetings by our 
preachers. In his judgment if one would get the greatest 
good out of these inspirational occasions he should be a 
regular attendant from year to year. To attend some 
and miss others was to lose touch with the brethren and 
with the work. Every year was a vital year. No one could 
afford to miss even one of these gatherings. Furthermore, 
no church could afford to have a minister who did not at- 
tend these conventions. He promoted the plan of having 
the churches pay the expenses of the pastors on these 
occasions. He made it a point to see that his own 
pastor was there, and that his expenses were paid. In 
order that one might get the best out of these conven- 
tions he maintained that one should always be in his 
seat at all the sessions, and that he should sit well 
up in front. The farther one sits away from a speaker 
the less of the speaker's personality reaches one. J. J. 
Haley tested this for himself after giving up an active 
pastorate. He said he sat in all parts of the auditorium 
and found that the farther to the rear he sat the less 
interest he took in the sermon, the less good he received 
from the service. 

One of the special phases of the friendship of F. M. 
Eains was particularly noticeable in connection with his 
work as a secretary of the Foreign Christian Missionary 
Society. His friendliness manifested to the Executive 
committee was worthy of record. Being a man of 
strong mind and of convictions he would sometimes defend 
some position which he had taken so strongly that action 



As a Friend 125 

would be deferred for months and sometimes years. 
Nevertheless, whenever the committee finally decided 
against him, and his long fight was lost, he would say, 
"All right, brethren, I am with you." Never, after- 
ward, would he refer to the matter, or remind the com- 
mittee of what he thought was a mistake. There was 
no alienation even for a moment between himself and 
his brethren. 

Upon leaving my pastorate in Norwood, after three 
years' ministry, I asked Brother Eains what advice he 
had to offer me as working principles for the future. 
Declaring that what he would say was not to be taken 
as a criticism he offered three suggestions which he said 
grew out of many years of observation of preachers. 

His first suggestion was, "Be sure always before going 
into the pulpit or upon any platform to preside over a 
meeting, that you know absolutely just what is to be 
done, and the order in which everything is to come, and 
just what you intend to say." 

His second suggestion was, "Do not allow yourself 
to preach long sermons. Thirty minutes is long enough 
for any sermon. Many of the best preachers in the 
brotherhood have handicapped themselves by preaching 
long sermons. Do not allow the people to mislead you 
by saying, 'We could have listened an hour longer \" 

His third suggestion was, "Do not hesitate to promote 
advance steps in the program of your church even if you 
must meet serious opposition. No one ever accomplishes 
much who does not meet opposition. A minister who 
seeks to keep peace by pleasing every one, will discover 
that the progressive people of his church are discontented 
and they will demand a man who will do things." 

I have no doubt that I personally needed this advice, 
and that he saw that I needed it, but I pass it on, be- 
cause it has been of great value to me. 



126 Francis Marion Rains 

In later years there were two other suggestions that 
ought to be recorded here. One was that a preacher 
should stay at least ten years in his pastorate. 

The other was that our preachers should take a year's 
leave of absence from their pastorates after having been 
out of college about fifteen yeaTs, and spend the year 
at one of the large universities, bringing themselves into 
touch with the best of modern thought, and freshening 
themselves for future work. A. McLean was of the 
same conviction, and expressed to the writer the wish 
to do this himself. 

F. M. Eains was the friend of good ideas as well as 
young preachers. He influenced more than one to spend 
the summer at some university, and in some instances 
to spend an entire year there. He was the friend of 
higher education. The last years of his life found him 
befriending higher education among the Disciples of 
Christ, specifically rendering what service he was able 
to the College of the Bible, of which he was a trustee. 

C. R. Stauffer, who has been the efficient pastor 
of the Norwood, Ohio, church for the past ten years 
and has led it into fruitful service in that field, 
writes : 

It was a rare privilege that the writer had in being 
the pastor of F. M. Rains for over seven years in the 
church at Norwood, Ohio. He was a devoted member 
and a faithful elder. 

While Brother Eains was engaged in the larger interests 
of the Kingdom and carried many burdens on his heart, 
he never was too busy or too heavily laden to be in- 
terested in the work of the local church. He was helpful 
in the counsels of the church, practical in his suggestions 
and faithful in his duties. 



As a Friend 127 

Whenever in the city on Wednesday evening he was 
sure to be in the midweek prayer meeting where his 
talks were always edifying. If he was in the city on 
Sunday he was the best listener in the audience. If the 
pastor preached a good sermon he was hearty in his 
expression of appreciation. If there was something that 
needed criticising he did it in the spirit of love and was 
always helpful to his minister. 

The hospitality of his home was often extended and 
the spirit of that home made it a place where the min- 
ister and his family delighted to be. His loyalty to his 
pastor was an inspiration at all times, for he was a real 
friend. 

His keen mind and broad experience as a leader in 
the work of the Kingdom made him a most helpful ad- 
viser on many matters. He always gloried in the 
achievements of the local church and did his best to 
make it one of the best in the brotherhood. He radiated 
a Christlike spirit through his devotion to the King- 
dom beginning in the local church and extending around 
the world. The secret of his leadership in the larger 
work is to be somewhat accounted for through his de- 
votion to the church which he loved. 

One of the well-known laymen among the Dis- 
ciples of Christ is J. H. Fillmore, of Cincinnati, 
Ohio, music writer and publisher. As a friend 
and neighbor he contributes the following : 

It was my good fortune to have Mr. Bains a near 
neighbor for twelve or fifteen years before his death. 
We lived just across the street from each other and for 
most of the time were fellow elders in the Norwood 
Christian Church. 

I had known of and about Mr. Rains ever since he 
had made Cincinnati his headquarters, but our intimate 



128 Francis Marion Rains 

acquaintance began when we became neighbors. From 
that time on we were constantly together when he was 
at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rains were hospitable people. Most of 
the time they were entertaining in their home, either 
missionaries or ministers or relatives or friends. They 
seemed never so happy as when they were entertaining. 

My personal friendship with Mr. Rains grew to bound- 
less proportions as the years came and went. We did 
not always agree in our opinions, and to me therein lay 
the uniqueness of our comradeship. We were both rather 
radical in our temperament and belief, and our dis- 
cussions were sometimes quite violent, but like children, 
when the subject changed we were more friendly than 
ever. Our mutual esteem far outweighed our differences. 

This was the one illuminating friendship of my ex- 
perience. Our discussions at times were quite bitter, yet 
always resulted in solidifying our friendship. To illus- 
trate, Brother Rains speaking once to our church congre- 
gation, said: ''Brother Fillmore and I agree upon only 
one thing, and that is our minister, Brother Stauffer." 

Brother Rains was a loyal supporter of his preacher 
and his church. He was faithful in his attendance, even 
when worn out from work or travel. He would drag 
himself to church when his physician would advise his 
staying abed. He was a great source of good cheer, 
stimulation, and inspiration to the church by his pres- 
ence. 

Brother Rains was a great reader and student. He 
was a subscriber to the best church papers and maga- 
zines; he bought all the best books on religious and 
social questions as they were announced. These he read 
with great interest and satisfaction, thus he kept up 
with modern thought; it was a great enjoyment to him, 
yet he never swerved from what is called "our plea." 



As a Friend 129 

Brother Rains was a remarkable man, industrious, in- 
dividualistic — a religious genius; a leader among men, 
performing a great task for the Disciples that only 
he could have performed, energetic, resourceful; he 
literally wore himself out in the service of the church. 

Mr. Kains was a friend not only to pastors and 
churches but to every institution and organization 
of the Disciples of Christ, one evidence being a 
bequest to every one of them. The College of the 
Bible at Lexington, Kentucky, had a large place in 
his affections. 

R. H. Crossfield, now President of William 
Woods College, Fulton, Missouri, and who made a 
signal success as President of Transylvania Col- 
lege and the College of the Bible, writes as follows : 

In the early days of June, 1878, Francis Marion Bains 
received his diploma from the College of the Bible, 
Lexington, Kentucky, "With all the rights, honors 
and perquisites thereunto appertaining, ' ' as runs the 
academic formula, and from that day until the end of 
an eventful life he never failed to magnify his Alma 
Mater and to glorify the gospel ministry in a manner 
befitting a great soul striving to invest itself in a con- 
tinuous and far-reaching service for the Master. 

Before entering the college at Lexington, already 
famed wherever the Disciples of Christ were known, 
Mr. Eains had received college preparatory training in 
Harrisburg (Kentucky) Academy and in Columbia (Ken- 
tucky) Christian College. His college experience was 
characterized by a warmth and geniality of spirit that 
won for him high praise in the esteem of student body 
and faculty members, and by a passion for service that 



130 Francis Marion Rains 

found expression in numerous activities, particularly 
that of ministering in uncared for communities. 

Many traditions are still extant in Woodford and 
Grant Counties of how this youthful Barnabas gave his 
utmost strength to the enlargement of the church, and 
how he traveled, on foot at times, from house to house, 
exhorting with all long-suffering and doctrine those of the 
Laodicean type and urging old and young to make King- 
dom interests their chief concern. 

The success attending his evangelistic campaigns was 
beyond that of many of the more mature and experienced 
students, and it became apparent that he possessed pe- 
culiar gifts in the high art of fishing for men. He had 
but one theme, the Fatherhood of God, and the need 
of every individual for that love that found expression 
in Jesus Christ. He learned well the simple Gospel 
story under the guidance of that triumvirate of the 
Disciples, Graham, Grubbs and McGarvey, and told it 
with a fervor and expertness that won immediate and 
lasting results. 

Critical questions, such as those touching inspiration, 
authorship, and so forth, had not then found place in the 
college curriculum, just as the scientific approach to truth 
in other areas had not become the established order. 
But F. M. Eains continued his education after leaving 
the classroom, becoming a discriminating reader of the 
best contemporaneous religious thought. On one occasion, 
he remarked to me that one of the richest blessings of 
his life came through an intimate acquaintance with 
Lyman Abbott through the columns of the Outlook. He 
was equally well acquainted with the writings of Marcus 
Dods, James Orr, and men of that scholarly type. Such 
breadth of view enabled him easily to make the neces- 
sary adjustment to the ever enlarging areas of knowledge 
and experience, and to live comfortably in an expanding 



As a Friend 131 

world where new light is constantly breaking for the 
guidance of human feet. 

In the early part of 1903, while filling with marked 
success the position of Financial Secretary of the Foreign 
Christian Missionary Society, President McGarvey ap- 
proached him with the personal request that he give his 
consent to become a trustee of the College of the Bible. 
Out of a deep affection for the College and Brother 
MeGarvey, he accepted this responsibility in June, 1903. 
Until the time of his death, Brother Rains discharged the 
office of Trustee with singular fidelity and intelligent 
interest, attending almost every meeting of the Board 
over a long period of years. 

But it was during the last few years of his life that 
an opportunity was afforded him of making his largest 
contribution to the welfare of the institution. While 
exceeded by no one in his loyalty to the administration 
of President McGarvey, for whom he entertained a great 
affection, he was likewise loyal to the succeeding admin- 
istration, believing that it had a peculiar responsibility 
to discharge in the light of the increasing problems of 
modern times. 

During the period of controversy following the ap- 
pointment of Professors A. W. Fortune, W. C. Bower and 
E. E. Snoddy, Brother Rains gave loyal and discriminat- 
ing support to the policy adopted by the faculty, and to 
those scholarly and self-giving men of God who for a 
time suffered almost apostolic persecution. 

His was a big mind that refused to be closed, always 
seeking for the light from whatever quarter; a large 
heart that beat with devotion to the cause of the King- 
dom; and an indefatigable spirit that burned out in 
splendid service for our Lord. 

One of the chief concerns of Brother Rains was that 
the College nave adequate financial resources in order 
that the teaching staff might receive proper pecuniary 



132 Francis Marion Rains 

recognition, and that the ever expanding program of the 
College might be carried forward without debt. In 
addition to directing students to the College, he con- 
stantly sought men who were able to contribute to its 
support. 

When the will of Brother Eains was probated it was 
discovered that he had bequeathed a goodly part of his 
modest estate to the permanent endowment of the College 
of the Bible. Today he lives in the life and life-giving 
of the institution he loved to serve, and so shall he live 
through the generations to come. 

The following letters coming- near the close of 
his life from friends of long standing brought 
great cheer to his heart and show the high regard 
in which he was held by the brethren at large. 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 
December, 1918. 
My Dear Brother Rains: 

In the days between Christmas and New Year I find 
a real blessing each year in thinking gratefully of my 
friends^ and especially those men and women who have 
through the year, added to my store of faith and hope 
and love. You will experience no surprise when my 
thoughts turn to you as for last year, and on back and 
back, you have helped me at times you knew not of. 1 
thank you. 

Wishes are not made of very tangible stuff — but, aftei 
all, the unseen things, the doings of the heart are the 
things that count. My heart is in my new year wishes 
for you and Mrs. Bains. May God give you both a year 
full of the real riches. 

Sincerely your friend, 

R. E. Elmore. 



As a Friend 133 

November 4, 1918. 
F. M. Eains, 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Dear Brother Eains: 

No letter among the many I have received since com- 
ing to Detroit has pleased me more than yours of October 
29th. It means more to me than you can know. I left 
Cincinnati without saying "Good-toy" to anyone. I 
shook hands with the members of the Executive Com- 
mittee at the last meeting but not to say "Good-by." 
It was with intention that I slipped away without for- 
malities. In the first place it is hard for me to say 
"Good-by" on any occasion. Then I do not feel in this 
case that I am parting with the work or the workers in the 
Missionary Societies. I hope to keep a close connection 
with both. 

I hope for opportunities to go to Cincinnati and meet 
with the Committees. My heart is in the general work 
and I love the devoted men and women who are engaged 
in extending the bounds of the Kingdom. You cannot 
know, Brother Eains, how much I admire the courage and 
persistence with which you have enlarged the work of 
the Foreign Society during the difficult years. The work 
some of the rest of us have done has been easier because 
of the great foundations laid by men like yourself. Some 
of the later undertakings have been more spectacular and 
have had more attention and some of us have received 
recognition beyond our deserving. But the larger things 
have been made possible because you have borne the heat 
and burden of labor and criticism. I feel like a thief 
when I am praised for the very small contribution I have 
been able to make. It has been far beneath what I 
hoped for myself. I want you to know that I fully 
appreciate your own great part in all that has giveir our 
beloved brotherhood even an approachably worthy part 
in the splendid enterprises of the day. 



134 Francis Marion Rains 

I regret that there has not been more time for per- 
sonal fellowship. That would have enriched my life. 
But I have watched with anxious concern your struggle 
for health. I have seen the agony in your life that you 
might add yet more and more to the splendid years of 
your service. Even when others have felt you ought to 
take the earned, rest you have hoped and fulfilled hope 
that you might yet return to the battle. It has all beer 
a great inspiration to me. 

I shall hope for many opportunities to see you and 
hear you. I shall want you to visit me and the church 
here that we may gain from your own zeal for the King- 
dom. I want this to be an increasingly great missionary 
church. Affectionately yours, 

E. H. Miller. 

December 19, 1918. 
Eev. F. M. Bains, 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 
My dear Brother Rains: 

I am enclosing you a copy of the second edition of 
your tract* which is just from the press. We are receiv- 
ing from day to day calls for this tract and we have 
gotten out another edition of 5,000 copies. This is without 
doubt one of the best statements ever put out by the 
Disciples regarding the unity of the church. It has taken 
with both the Disciples and the other communions. When 
this second edition is exhausted we will get out the 
third. I thank you with all my heart for what you have 
said in this little tract. 

May the Lord's blessing rest abundantly upon you. 

Your friend, 

Peter Ainslie. 



'Disciples of Christ and Christian Union. 



As a Friend 135 

Study, May 12, 1919. 
Eev. F. M. Bains, LL.D., 

Norwood, Ohio. 
Dear Brother Eains: 

News comes to me that you are regaining though 
slowly some portion of your former physical strength 
and I rejoice in it. May you continue to do so! As I 
have written to you before we need men like you in the 
church and in this stricken world. Your brothers in the 
ministry need you — you have cheered and inspired us — 
and cheer and inspiration are a vast wealth — an incal- 
culable wealth. We are greedy — we covet more of these 
— we wish to look to you for great measures of them 
as we have been wont to do. For myself, I am pro- 
foundly grieved at your protracted illness and in- 
capacity for all your accustomed and significant work. 
I should find it hard to tell you how much I have loved 
and trusted you and how unfailingly you have justified 
me in doing so — may the Lord somehow show to you 
what you have meant to me and hosts of others and may 
the vision give you something of added disposition and 
power to us still, if not otherwise then with years of 
ripened counsel — you are prayed for here and not by me 
alone. 

With all good wishes for you and Sister Eains — what 
a lovely woman she is! — and others who are dear to you, 
I am, Your friend, 

Harry D. Smith. 

Moberly, Mo., March 31„ 1919. 
Dear Brother and Sister Eains: 

I just got your address from Mrs. Noel and want to 
throw you both a line of hopeful interest and love — I trust 
every day will see you in better health and looking for- 
ward to renewed strength and power. You have done 
such a heavy work and lifted all the time the burdens of. 



136 Francis Marion Rains 

the churches that you surely deserve a rest and a quiet time 
to gather yourself together again. I shall be glad to 
know you are gaining. 

I was just thinking of the old days at Cincinnati when 
we used to lunch together with J. A. Lord and the brethren 
dwelt together in unity. I remember the real fellowship of 
those days with pleasure yet — and your never failing good 
humor was no small part of it. You have had a royal fel- 
lowship in all your ministerial life — from Kansas to this 
day and your heart should be so full of the love of the 
thousands who love you and honor you for your work's sake. 

Yours in bond, 
B. L. Smith. 

Lexington, Ky., May 5, 1919. 
Dear Brother Bains: 

I am sorry to hear that you have been very sick. It 
makes me feel that one both intimate and dear is ailing. 
You have been so active, vigorous and devoted to the 
interests of the Kingdom of Christ when well, that now 
the Master's hand is laid gently upon the strings of your 
harp to rest them from vibration. 

One who has thrilled others may now hear the echo 
of his music. He for whom you have so long been 
speaking is now speaking to you. May the "Meek and 
Lowly" reveal and give to you His rest. This life is a 
school as well as a pulpit, a parish and a workshop. Your 
outward wings may be clipped for a season but your 
inward pinions grow day by day. 

You will be glad to know that Broadway Church, on 
yesterday, raised $83,000 to pay a debt of $75,000. Brother 
Snively conducted the campaign. 

Trusting you are feeling better and that the very 
best of life's blessings may come to you and your good 
wife. Very cordially yours, 

I. J. Spencer. 



As a Friend 137 

Springfield, 111., May 6, 1919. 
Mr. F. M. Eains, 

Norwood, Ohio. 
My Dear Brother Eains: 

It is with much regret that I learn of your indisposi- 
tion, but with pleasure I learn of your gradual improve- 
ment. I have been so fortunate from the health stand- 
point during all my ministry that I presume I hardly 
appreciate what it means to be indisposed for any length 
of time. Yet, I know that to one who has been as active 
as yourself for so many, many years it must be a source of 
pain not to be at the task. You may rest assured that, 
not only your associates in the Foreign Board, but also 
your preacher brothers throughout the land will want 
you to take all the time necessary for recuperation. 

Ever since I began preaching (nineteen years ago) 
I remember your leadership and inspiration most kindly. 
I am now about the mid-time of life where I think I can 
the more appreciate leadership than I would then. In 
some small way, I know something of the tremendous 
drain incident to it as well as the unbounded joys accru- 
ing from it. 

My prayers and best wishes are yours for a permanent 
recovery. Your brother in service, 

Wm. F. Rothenburger. 

May 14, 1919. 
Enid, Oklahoma. 
Mr. F. M. Rains, 

Norwood, Ohio. 
My Dear Brother Rains: 

I learned through Brother Harry D. Smith that you 
are back home and have not been feeling at all well, but 
am glad to know that you are improving and I hope by 
the time you receive this letter that you are very much 
better indeed. No doubt, Mrs. Rains is seeing to it that 



138 Francis Marion Rains 

you are being properly looked after and not exposing your- 
self. It is mighty hard, I know, for a man who has been as 
active in service as you not to attempt to do work when 
he is unable; but you are too useful and important a 
man in the brotherhood to make any mistake, so be as 
careful as you can and get well as fast as you can for 
we need you. 

I count it one of the great joys of my life to have had 
the opportunity to have known you and to have been asso- 
ciated with you in a small way. It was always a great 
thing to me to be in your presence and I know of the 
influential things you have accomplished in the interest 
of the missionary propaganda of the world. I think no 
man of the Disciples of Christ has done more. I wish 
you were able to come down to Enid and make us a 
visit, it would cheer all of our hearts and be of great 
strength and inspiration to the school. 

We are progressing I think in a very fine way with 
an enrollment of over 1,000 students. One of the greatest 
assets, if not the greatest asset in recent years, to Phillips 
University has been Brother Harry D. Smith. He is a 
wonderful teacher and there is no need for me to say 
to you that he is a superior man. He wields a tremen- 
dous influence upon the young ministers of the University. 

Hoping again that you are improving rapidly and with 
very best wishes to you and Mrs. Rains, I am, 

Very sincerely yours, 

T. T. Roberts. 



CHAPTER NINE 

THE CLOSE OF HIS MINISTRY 

The preceding chapters have shown F. M. Rains 
as an active, determined, intelligent servant of 
God. His ministry from earliest manhood was 
never interrupted save during those short periods 
which nature demanded that he might recuperate 
from the effects of overtaxed strength due to his 
arduous labors. Never once did the lure of the 
world's commerce, with all its promise of wealth 
and power cause his footsteps to falter. With a 
deep and abiding faith, pointing his face Godward, 
he caught that perspective of life which Jesus 
wished for all men when he said, "Seek ye first 
the Kingdom of God." Every other interest was 
subordinate to that of Kingdom building. Yet with 
all that consecration of life and concentration of 
effort he manifested a vital interest in the progress 
of manhood in every form of endeavor. After 
a strenuous day in the office with its exacting 
and nerve wearing duties, he would anticipate 
his evening at home. Here, after the evening meal 
with his family he would read the day's mail, the 
evening paper, several church papers, or perhaps 
a portion of some new book. He loved books — 
good books, lately written books — and he brought 
one or more home so frequently that it was a prob- 
139 



140 Francis Marion Bains 

lem where to put them. After this period of 
browsing in the intellectual field he found com- 
plete relaxation in a game of checkers or flinch. 
This was his favorite pastime, and how he would 
joke and laugh and sing some little ditty remem- 
bered from boyhood! 

He had that active mind which found content- 
ment only in purposeful effort. He was a great 
lover of nature and often in his reminiscent or 
humorous moods would refer to the persimmon 
tree, the huckleberry and the briar bush. One of 
his morning clarion calls for the boys was, "Get up, 
go down and wash your face in the brook, climb 
a persimmon tree and eat your breakfast!" On 
summer evenings just before twilight or early in 
the morning, he delighted in wandering over the 
lawn with a pocket knife in hand extracting the 
dandelions. He took pride in young trees which he 
had placed in the yard and watched their growth 
with great interest. 

It has been said that Mr. Rains was an individ- 
ualist. This characteristic manifested itself in cer- 
tain unconventionalities, inimitable voice, and 
physical mannerisms. While always showing due 
courtesy, he fell in with the spirit of every occa- 
sion and exercised a freedom of manner which in 
many others would have been a violation of good 
etiquette. His impulse was to do what seemed to 
him the natural thing without regard to what 
other people might think. This, in most instances, 



The Close of His Ministry 141 

won him friends. Those who have heard his plat- 
form utterances, know how his accentuation of the 
most common words secured attention and made 
lasting impressions. If talking about some new, 
far-reaching program, he would draw out some 
such word as "enlargement," with an accumula- 
tive volume of utterance. He knew how to make 
dry wit out of the most commonplace experiences. 
His humorous vein found expression on the most 
common and serious occasions, and was reenforced 
by a certain whimsical look and snap of the eyes 
quite peculiar to himself. While Mr. Kains did 
not think it necessary for a preacher to be either 
foppish or clerical in his dress, he did believe that 
he should be well groomed and is quoted as saying, 
"It would be a good thing for some preachers to 
black their boots and put on a clean collar at least 
once a quarter." He was very particular about 
the cleanliness and neatness of his own attire. He 
bought good clothes and wore them a long time. 

Mr. Rains took few people into his confidence 
concerning his personal affairs. He planned his 
finances with loyalty to certain well established 
principles of thrift and supervised all such matters 
carefully. From the first year of his marriage, 
when he was receiving $800.00 a year and through- 
out his life during which time his salary never ex- 
ceeded $3,000.00, he saved systematically. Al- 
though a liberal contributor to every good cause, 
he was able on a moderate salary by wise invest- 



142 Francis Marion Bains 

merits to provide a perpetual income for his wife 
and to leave certain gifts to college and missionary 
causes which were dear to his heart. 

One of his greatest problems was a quick tem- 
per, but he never let the sun go down without 
doing everything a man could do to atone for the 
hastily spoken word. He loved every member of his 
household and folks generally, too much to cause 
sorrow. On one occasion when Paul was about 
fourteen years of age, he became irritated over 
some matter and struck him across the back with 
a copy of the Youth's Companion, folded in the 
mailing wrapper. A short time afterward he 
apologized in the most manly way to his youngest 
son, with as much humility and dignity as might 
have been addressed to a man of his own age. It 
is needless to say that Paul discovered a new ad- 
miration for his father. 

When his namesake, Francis Marion, Jr., the son 
of Ernest, was two and a half years of age, he 
visited his grandfather. One day Mr. Rains at- 
tempted to discipline him as he had his own chil- 
dren, by turning the high chair away from the 
table when he refused to stop crying. The boy 
stopped instantly, but it could be seen that he 
was very angry, as he looked up at his grand- 
daddy, his black eyes flashing, and he said, "Now, 
ain't you ashamed of yourself?" This was one 
occasion when Mr. Rains had no answer ready. 
He was completely routed by his young grandson. 



The Close of His Ministry 143 

Mr. Eains loved his children dearly. However, 
he was prevented by the very nature of his work 
from having that close fellowship with them which 
he desired and which they needed. It will be re- 
membered that Elva, his only daughter, died at the 
early age of ten. Ernest, when seventeen years 
old, went to Texas for his health and established 
himself permanently in the south. Paul left home 
for college at the same age. Mr. Rains spent most 
of his Sundays in dedications. One of the prices 
he paid for the great missionary service he ren- 
dered was the lack of a closer contact with, his 
family. He loved and cherished his last wife 
dearly. Coming into the home when the youngest 
child was but three years of age, she quickly grew 
into their affection. Throughout the years she has 
occupied that place in the hearts of the boys which 
only a true mother could claim. Among the few 
utterances which Mr. Rains was able to make dur- 
ing those last days as life slowly slipped away were 
words of praise for her tender ministrations. 

That he followed his children with loving inter- 
est is shown by the following extracts from letters 
written to Paul after he began work with the 
American Christian Missionary Society: 

Cincinnati, Ohio, August 16, 1917. 
Dear Paul: 

Do your own careful thinking. Stand square and solid 
on the integrity of the Bible and upon Jesus Christ as 
the Son of God, and remember that there is a lost world 
and that only Jesus Christ can save it. Hang to Jesus 



144 Francis Marion Bains 

Christ, and hang to his commandments. The world does 
not need new things preached to it so much as it needs 
the old common things emphasized and reenforced. 

I am going down to New Liberty (Kentucky) Saturday. 
I will preach one sermon on "Immortality" as you request. 
Affectionately, your father, 

Jacksonville. Florida. 
November 17, 1917. 
Dear Paul: 

My health is improving right along. I am getting so 
stout that I can speak two or three times a day and 
travel in between. I say, you will have to get up and dust 
if you keep up with the old man. You kids don't know 
much about work yet! I hear good things about you 
and your work. * * * 

Lexington. Kentucky. 

May 15, 1918. 

Dear Paul: 
* * * 

I note what you say about the poems. I think they are 
good and I enjoyed them and am proud of you. Don't 
get too poetical, but don't be afraid even of poetry. * * * 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 
November 12, 1918. 
Dear Paul: 

Let me particularly recommend that you take pains 
about good warm clothing this winter in that very severe 
climate. See that you are well fitted out with warm under- 
wear especially, and see also that your overcoat is a warm 
one. Keep your feet warm. Provide yourself with good 
warm socks and in your travels guard yourself against ex- 
posure to the cold as much as possible. 

I have not been very well for some days. I suffer a 



The Close of His Ministry 145 

good deal as you know with my back. I get along like an 
old stiff horse, but the weather is beautiful now and I am 
hoping for better things. * * * 

Norwood. 
Nov. 18, 1919. 
Dear Paul: 

Congratulations upon the safe arrival of the young man 
of much name! We inclose him $5.00 to pay his income 
tax for five years! 

As ever, 

F. M. Rains. 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 
December 31, 1918. 
My dear son Paul: 

The old year is passing. How short it seems to have 
been! What mighty things have taken place! A new 
year is here tomorrow. May it be a happy and useful 
year to all of us. 

Last Sunday I spoke three times at Akron, Ohio. Next 
Sunday I aim to be at Janesville, Wisconsin. I can do 
little office work. 

Hope both of you will keep well. Take good care of 
yourselves when it is cold. 

Affectionately your father, 

No one knew quite as well as the members of his 
own family with what abandon he threw himself 
into his work as a secretary of foreign missions. 
He was a man of broad vision and deep sympa- 
thies. No one could have been more sanely opti- 
mistic. The mission fields and the missionaries 
were constantly on his mind. He spent many rest- 
less nights thinking about their problems. Some- 



146 Fr^nc-s M>ir:or. £,:;>:.< 

times when troubled :-ver an unusual situation he 
would walk the door :r wenld dress in the middle 
:>i the night and g: :: l_is study for meditation 
and prayer. VThen Mr. Rains accented gifts aggre- 
gating S25.00j frem John D. Rockefeller for" for- 
eign missions. T'r.i Chr.r.i:.*; .>':.: ch. -5. citterly 
criticized him and the Society. This was the begin- 
ning of continual criticism and opposition on the 
part of tMs paper, which caused unfounded sus- 
picion and distrust among the brethren. Air. Rains 
was not concerned for himself except as he feared 
that it would embarrass the growth of the cause 
into which he was pouring his life. The growing 
emphasis and support whieh the church gave its 
foreign missionary task was sufficient testimony of 
the faithful stewardship of Mr. McLean and Mr. 
Rains. Furthermore, the confidence of the broth- 
erhood in the leadership of these men was mani- 
fested by their vmanimous election each succeeding 
year. 

Mr. Rains placed a high value :n the church 

vent tons wmen ne coo not attend, suuee tne Lm- 
cinnati Convention of 1874 He knew convent! :n 
psychology. There was n: tetter master ■:£ cere- 
monies in the brotherhood. In his inimitable man- 
ner he ::eu turned diseeuragiug situatiens into 
victory. It was at 'he Los Angeles Convention of 
1!?15 that he "^ male Secretary Emeritus. 1: 
Moines Convention of 1916 was the last one he 



The Close of His Ministry 147 

was permitted to attend. The Christian-Evangelist 
of October 19, 1916, reports as follows: 

When F. M. Rains declared that his report was "the 
best the Society has ever presented in the forty-one years 
of its existence" and when it was learned that $522,617, 
$100,000 more than any previous year, had been received, 
President McLean could no longer suppress cheering. It 
was too great a strain on an audience of Disciples. It 
looked as if the chairman himself wished to clap his hands, 
though he refrained. But his frown looked very much 
like a smile. 

A pleasant interpolation was the presentation of a lov- 
ing cup to F. M. Rains in a few appropriate words by 
C. H. Winders, of Indianapolis, on behalf of the office 
force and executive committee, as an expression of the 
good will of the Foreign Christian Missionary Society. 
Doubtless every person present wished he might have had 
direct part in this token, so happily conceived, so truly 
merited. 

In 1917 he did not feel equal to the physical 
demands involved by attendance upon a national 
convention. Instead therefore, of going to Kansas 
City, he filled a number of speaking engagements 
in the south. In the fall of 1918 he went to St. 
Louis, but the convention was not held on account 
of the influenza epidemic. 

In the latter part of January, 1919, he started 
on a speaking trip through the South, visiting 
the churches at Knoxville, Tenn., Jacksonville, St. 
Petersburg and Miami, Florida. On January 30th 
he wrote to his son Paul from Cincinnati as fol- 
lows : 



148 Francis Marion Bains 

My dear Boy: 

I am off tomorrow for the South. Will be gone from 
four to six weeks. Hope you and Clara will keep that part 
of the world level while I am gone. I am feeling pretty 
well. Had a big day last Sunday at Owensboro, Kentucky. 
Your mother feels that she will get a little lonesome but 
she has so many irons in the fire, I think she will keep 
busy. Keep yourself warm. This has been a remarkable 
winter for good weather. Sincere love to both of you. 

Affectionately your father, 

Mr. W. A. Harp of St. Petersburg wrote to A. 
McLean as follows : 

We had Brother Rains with us Sunday and he gave us a 
great address in the morning but at night he was not 
able to speak. He came to us in a terrible condition, 
weak, sick, broken, and awfully yellow, and terribly anemic, 
but we took the best care of him we could and Ms voice 
was better and he seemed more natural when he left. He 
will attempt to speak at Miami next Sunday against the 
doctor's orders, but he will have to give up for some 
months and rest, for he is about "all in." It hurt us to 
see him looking and feeling so bad, but I believe that with 
care, he will improve, though Dr. Woods of Cleveland said 
just by looking at him, he would never be better. He had 
a great house of the finest people on earth from all over 
the United States and they were glad to hear him. I 
write you that someone might know the real situation. 
He has sent for Mrs. Rains to join him in Miami. 

After reaching' Miami, Mr. Rains was not able 
to speak again until the first Sunday in March. 
During an eight weeks ' stay he was confined to his 
bed the greater part of the time. The following 
letters which he wrote to his associates in the For- 



The Close of His Ministry 149 

eign Society during this period represent his con- 
dition : 

Miami, Florida. 
February 25, 1919. 
Brethren Corey, Wilson, Plopper and others, 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Dear Brethren: 

First of all, let me thank you for your very cordial and 
brotherly letters. These are real sources of strength and 
encouragement to me and to Mrs. Rains. I appreciate them 
more than I can tell you. 

I think I wrote one of you that I had almost entirely 
lost my voice, and a very reputable physician, Dr. Adam- 
son, of Tampa, insisted that I quit speaking for a month 
or two at least. Having an engagement here I decided to 
stay at least until the first of May. I spoke only once at 
St. Petersburg, and under great embarrassment. I could 
speak only above a whisper. I supposed my trouble was a 
cold but the doctor told me my hoarseness was owing to 
the condition of my blood. He said my blood was in bad 
shape, lacking in iron and irregular. He made a thorough 
test. 

We have rented a small apartment and are comfortably 
situated. I am already feeling some better. The weather 
is very warm. I am giving my attention to building up my 
strength. I may say that since I talked with Dr. Adamson 
I have conferred with two other physicians, a Dr. Barnes 
of Miami, and Dr. Crawford of Illinois, and they agree with 
Dr. Adamson in diagnosis and treatment. 

Of course I am greatly disappointed to be laid up in 
this way at this time, but I am doing what seems to be 
the only thing I can do. I did not speak here last Sun- 
day, not having sufficient strength, but I am planning to 
speak next Sunday a little while and then will not under- 
take to speak again until about the first of May at least. 



150 Francis Marion Bains 

I have canceled my engagements at Valdosta and Augusta, 
Georgia. 

The situation here is very congenial. Brother (Ira) 
Adams is very attentive and kind to me. There are a num- 
ber of people here whom I know, Mr. and Mrs. Bowman of 
New York; Dr. and Mrs. Crawford of Eureka, Illinois; 
Mr. and Mrs. Pounds of Cleveland, Ohio ; Mr. and Mrs. Sala 
of Canton, Ohio; President and Mrs. Cramblet of Bethany, 
West Virginia, and many others. The weather and climate 
are ideal. If I do not improve here my situation, it would 
seem, is hopeless. But I feel assured that in the course of 
two weeks or a month I will be better and will improve 
right along. I am very anxious to give at least five or six 
years more to the Society, if the Lord wills. 

I rejoice in the good word I have from all of you and 
from the missionaries. I trust that we may have a great 
year, and that we will have plenty of money to support 
the work and find many new candidates for the field. I 
am trusting that Brother McLean's trip to Mexico was not 
too hard on him. 

I need hardly tell you that I have full confidence that 
you are all laboring to the very best advantage for the 
growth and expansion of the work of the Society. May 
God give you all great wisdom and preserve your health 
and make the Society a mighty force in the world. 

I know you brethren will understand how I am pressed 
for strength and will accept this letter as one intended for 
each of you. With great affection for all in the office, I 
remain, 

Most cordially yours, 

F. M. Rains. 

February 28, 1919. 
My Dear Brother Plopper: 

I have no doubt everything is being done that can be 
done for the March offering. Somehow this time of the 



The Close of His Ministry 151 

year I feel a little nervous about it always. I suppose 
that is the law of habit. 

I am very glad you are hearing from Brother MeLean. 
Tell him to write me when he returns. Tell him I am 
doubled up here doing everything I can to get strong. 

I am very glad to report to you that Mrs. Rains is a 
source of a great deal of help to me in writing my letters 
and looking after my affairs. 

Miami, Florida. 

Dear Brethren: Mareh 3 > 1919 ' 

I spoke here yesterday thirty minutes. I was quite weak 
but my voice was very good. I was able to speak only 
once. We had a very good crowd and representatives of 
our people from many different states. 

I suffer no pain at all, but I am weak. I suppose it 
was a little imprudent to speak yesterday morning but I 
was afraid the people would get away to their homes, and 
I would not have an opportunity to address them. 

Miami, Florida. 

Dear Bishop: March 5 > 1919 ' 

I received your card from Mexico and your letter from 
Cincinnati. I thank you for both of them. It is good to 
know that you are back safe and sound. I have no doubt 
you learned much about the situation in Mexico and I am 
quite sure that good things will come out of your con- 
ferences. 

I am feeling some better, I think. I am not strong. 
When I walk up one flight of stairs I am almost completely 
exhausted. When I walk three or four blocks I am tired 
out but feel that my stay will do me good. My present 
thought is to remain here until about the first of May. In 
the meantime I shall not make any engagements, I think. 
I believe it my first duty to try to build up my blood and 



152 Francis Marion Rains 

regain my strength. This I think I will do. Mrs. Gains 
is a great comfort and help to me. 

Miami, Florida. 
Beloved Brethren: Itad. 10, 1919. 

You ask about my health. I am making some progress 
but it is slow. * * * I am making the best fight I know 
t: get back mv strength. My great ambition is to do some 
more work before I pass on. 

I do hope the March offering is proving a great success. 
I hope you can send me a comparative statement for the 
±rst nfteen days of March. 

Most cordially yours, 

F. M. Rains. 

Miami. Florida. 
March 17. 1919. 

The past w eek has been a disappointing one. I have 
been here in this room flat on my back for six days. I 
have been quite sick part of the time. I am about as 
yellow as when I returned from Japan. It all grows out 
of the condition of my blood, the doctor says. I have 
been exceedingly fortunate in having the daily visitation of 
Dr. Crawford of Eureka, Illinois. He is a fine physician, 
and his sympathy and suggestions have been invaluable. 
He has done me a lot of good and I shall not soon forget 
his kindness and helpfulness. I must also testify to the 
stmstant attention of Brother Adams, the minister of the 
church. He has been to see me every day and many 
friends have shown great kindness. 

I am hoping and praying for better health and I am 
doing everything in my power to that end. I trust the 
good Father for recovery if it is his will. It looks strange 
that one under this Italian sky, by this beautiful blue 
ocean, with these delightful trees and numerous and fra- 
grant flowers should be obliged to occupy a small room, 



The Close of His Ministry 153 

flat on his back. I am offering no note of complaint. My 
wife is doing everything in her power for my recovery and 
it was exceedingly fortunate that she came to me. 

F. M. Rains. 

Miami, Florida. 
March 19, 1919. 
Dear Bishop: 

The World Call has been received, and I thank you 
more than I can express for your appreciation of my poor 
effort in the world. I wish I might have done more, and 
I am especially desirous of doing more now. 

I am still in bed. I hope all is going well. I should 
like to know the progress that is being made in uniting the 
societies and if any breakers have developed, what they are. 

Miami, Florida. 
March 24, 1919. 
I am some better, I rejoice to report. I am sitting up 
part of the time. I took a short auto ride yesterday. I 
am hoping to get along. I am sorry not to be in the con- 
test for the March offering. 

Miami, Florida. 
March 30, 1919. 
Our plan is to leave here next Tuesday night and be in 
Cincinnati Thursday morning about nine o'clock. I am 
going home because I feel much better at home and be- 
sides I am very weak and am hoping to get stronger by 
the change, though I have every possible comfort here. 

Arriving at Cincinnati April 10, he was confined 
to his bed for several weeks. His life being de- 
spaired of, the two boys, Ernest and Paul, were 
sent for. Their presence seemed to give him new 
courage and almost immediately he sufficiently im- 



154 Francis Marion Rains 

proved so as to be able to get up. Although very 
feeble, he was able to get around through the fol- 
lowing summer. The last article he ever wrote was 
written the following September and published in 
an October issue of The Christian-Evangelist. 

A CONTRAST 

The first National Christian Missionary Convention of 
our people I attended, was held here in Cincinnati in 1874. 
It made a deep impression upon me. I was only twenty 
years of age. I have attended about all of the National 
Conventions since. That convention was forty-five years 
ago. It was eight years after the death of Alexander 
Campbell, the first President of the American Christian 
Missionary Society. It was the twenty-fifth anniversary 
of the Society. 

Thinking of the 1874 gathering, I have been contrast- 
ing it, as far as I can, with the one that is to be held here 
in October. That convention was held here in the ' ' Christian 
Chapel at the corner of Eichmond and Cutter Streets." 
It was a small building. The convention this year will be 
held in Music Hall, one of the best buildings for such a 
gathering in the whole country. It is centrally located, 
easily reached, and the acoustics are almost perfect. You 
can be heard in this building if you can talk. The women 
can be heard! It will accommodate 5,000 or more. Many 
who attended the Jubilee Convention will remember the 
building. 

The attendance in 1874 waa small, less than two hundred. 
Many county and district conventions are larger now. 
About all present in '74 have passed on to their final re- 
ward. There are a few that remain. 

W. K. Pendleton, the scholar and eloquent orator, de- 
livered the chief address. It was an interpretation of the 
missionary situation among our people, and a strong de- 



The Close of His Ministry 155 

fense of Alexander Campbell's missionary record. Being 
President of Bethany College, and a successor of Mr. Camp- 
bell, the address naturally attracted much attention. He 
spoke out against those who opposed organic missionary 
work with clearness and conviction. In that address, Presi- 
dent Pendleton said: "Nothing is better known to those 
familiar with the life and hopes of Alexander Campbell 
than that among the concerns of deep solicitude with him, 
this of the organic cooperation of the entire brotherhood 
for the spread of the gospel, was the most constant and 
profound. It was in his conversation, in his preaching, 
in his prayers." 

It was at this convention that our Christian Woman's 
Board of Missions was organized, and it was also at this 
convention that plans were made for the organization of 
the Foreign Society, which took place the following year 
at Louisville. Many of the brethren were very cordial to- 
ward the new organization, the Christian Woman's Board 
of Missions. Isaac Errett offered the following resolution, 
which was unanimously adopted: "That this Convention 
extend to the Christian Woman's Board of Missions 
their recognition and hearty approval, assured that it 
opens a legitimate field of activity and usefulness, in 
which Christian women may be active and successful co- 
operants of ours in the great work of sending the gospel 
into all the world. We pledge ourselves to help these women 
who propose to labor with us in the Lord. ' ' 

And this reminds me that I have been present at the 
organization of every board among us, except, of course, 
the American Christian Missionary Society. 

There were differences of opinion among the brethren 
during the convention, being talked about in a quiet way. 
As I recall, there were no serious public discussions. One 
of the topics of interest was the use of the organ in the 
public worship. Many opposed women talking in public. 
Mrs. Pearre was on the platform making an address, when 



156 Francis Marion Rains 

a brother, whom I know well, sat down beside me and said 
in substance: "What are we coming to? See that, woman 
talking here before all this assembly, when Paul positively 
prohibits such a practice?" This brother still lives and 
has since urged many sisters to talk in public. 

The growth in the receipts of our missionary work has 
been nothing less than wonderful. C. W. Plopper, Treasurer 
of the Foreign Society, often receipts for as much money in 
a single day as the American Christian Missionary Society 
receipted for in a whole year, and the same is true of the 
income of other boards. We have gone beyond the million 
dollar line for all our work. The total gain last year 
cheered all hearts. The receipts for ten months of this year 
amounted to $1,179,161, a gain of $315,803. We are en- 
couraged to hope the gain will amount to $500,000 by 
September 30th. 

At the time of that convention we had no converts or 
property or missionaries, on all the foreign field. Many 
of us have witnessed the growth of all the great things 
wrought by the gospel in all the pagan lands. Our great 
schools and colleges and hospitals and printing presses 
and orphanages and farms and industrial plants, have come 
into being within forty years. 

Graves of our loved missionaries are found in all the 
lands we have cultivated. A number of brave men and 
women have returned completely broken in health. The 
experiences of our brotherhood in taking the gospel into 
the regions beyond have sanctified the churches. 

And what wonders have been wrought here in America! 
Only forty years ago we had one church in Kansas City, 
which was divided over the organ! We were a feeble 
folk all the way from the mouth of the Missouri Eiver to 
its source. Now we are a mighty army. We could hardly 
be seen in states like Texas and Kansas and Nebraska and 
Iowa. Now lift up your eyes and behold what has been ac- 
complished. 



The Close of His Ministry 157 

And you sometimes discouraged brother, think of the 
men we have produced — men of valor, men of faith, men 
of the highest character and scholarship, resourceful men — 
men who are determined to lead on until all the world is 
Immanuel's land. 

Many thousands will be in Cincinnati October 13th to 
plan for future campaigns. They know, as Mr. Campbell 
taught, and as the New Testament teaches, that the preach- 
ing of the gospel is the one overmastering business of the 
whole church of God. 

Mr. Rains looked forward many months with 
great anticipation toward attending the sessions 
of the Cincinnati Convention. The following let- 
ter was addressed to Paul and his wife : 

Dear Paul and Clara: 

Your letter received. Come on as soon as you can. We 
are going to ask you to occupy your old room on the third 
floor. We will have other company during the conven- 
tion. 

Let us know the exact time when you will arrive — time 
of train and road, and we will meet you if we can. 

My improvement is very slow. May not be able to at- 
tend sessions of the convention. 

Tell that boy, Gregg, and that country girl, Clara, that 
they will come to a real city and that they may not know 
just how to do at first. 

Your affectionate father, 

F. M. Eains. 

On Friday, the day before Paul was to arrive, 
he was stricken again when attempting to go out 
to the Ford sedan which he called the "Black 
Mare. ' ' He wanted to go to a barber shop for a 
shave. The next morning he said, "Two things I 



158 Francis Marion Rains 

must do today ; one is to go to the barber shop and 
the other is to go down to the station tonight to 
meet Paul." However, it was not possible for him 
to do either. He never again was able to get up, 
but for nearly two weeks, all during the sessions 
of the convention and a few days following, lay 
there while life slowly ebbed away. Saturday 
night when Paul, his wife, and Gregg, their three 
months old boy arrived, Mr. Eains was sitting up 
in bed, and laughed and joked about the baby in 
much his characteristic way but never after was 
able to think or act as normally as at that time. 

Concerning his life none could more fitly give 
an account than A. McLean, his comrade in 
the work for twenty-six years. The following 
chapter is selected from the funeral sermon which 
he preached in the Norwood, Ohio, Christian 
Church. 




Taken in 1916 at the Des Moines, Iowa, National Convention 



CHAPTER TEN 

HE DID GOOD IN ISRAEL 

(Selected from the funeral sermon which was later 

published in the January, 1920, issue of the 

World Call, entitled: "A Record of the Life 

and Ministry of Francis Marion Rains," 

by Archibald McLean) 

And they buried him in the city of David among the 
kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God 
and toward his house. — 2 Chron. 24:16. 

Jehoiada, the hero of this passage, was not a 
king but a priest. In a time of national apostasy 
he was a political and a religious reformer. He 
overthrew the idolatrous and murderous queen who 
had usurped the throne and placed the rightful 
sovereign upon it. He made a covenant between 
himself and all the people and the king that they 
should be the Lord's people. Because of his teach- 
ing and influence all the people went to the House 
of Baal and broke it down and broke his altars and 
his images in pieces, thoroughly, and slew the 
priest of Baal before the altars. As long as Je- 
hoiada lived, the king and the people were mind- 
ful of their covenant and did that which was right 
in the eyes of the Lord. Jehoiada did another 
notable thing. While idolatry was prevalent the 
house of God was broken up, and the dedicated 
159 



160 Francis Marion Rains 

things belonging to it were bestowed npon Baalim. 
At the suggestion of the king, Jehoiada collected 
large sums of money and repaired the breaches in 
the house of the Lord, and with the surplus pro- 
vided vessels of gold and silver wherewith to min- 
ister and to offer. The record shows the nation 
offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord 
continually all the days of Jehoiada. One other 
thing is recorded of this distinguished servant of 
the Most High God. He restored the temple wor- 
ship as it had been established centuries before. 
As a result of these reforms the people of the land 
rejoiced, and the city was quiet. At the age of 
one hundred and thirty Jehoiada died, and they 
buried him in the city of David among the kings. 
This unprecedented honor was in recognition of his 
eminent services to Church and State. In this same 
chapter we read of a degenerate king who died. 
They buried him in the city of David, but they did 
not bury him in the sepulchers of the kings. Be- 
cause of his high crimes he was deemed unworthy 
of the burial given the good priest. 

The text fitly describes the ministry of the good 
man whom God has taken to himself, Francis 
Marion Rains did good in our Israel, both toward 
God and toward his house. 

While the work of the Foreign Christian Mis- 
sionary Society had the first claim upon him, Mr. 
Rains was interested in every department of the 
work of the Kingdom. He was an advocate of 



He Did Good in Israel 161 

every political and every social and every moral 
reform. He was an advocate of nation-wide and 
world-wide prohibition, of universal suffrage, and 
of every other cause that had as its objectives the 
welfare of humanity and the glory of Christ. In 
increasing the receipts of the Foreign Society, he 
made it easier for every other society to increase 
its receipts. The methods he invented were bor- 
rowed by others, and with good results. 

Mr. Eains was " given to hospitality." And 
what a genial and gracious host he was! He was 
never happier than when he had his friends under 
his roof and at his table. Most of the missionaries 
of the Society and missionaries of other societies 
were entertained by him and Mrs. Rains. He 
wanted to know the missionaries more intimately, 
to learn of their problems and needs, and what the 
Society could do to meet their needs and increase 
their influence. To missionaries on furlough, and 
to missionary candidates, a visit in his home was 
like rivers of waters in a dry plaice, like the shadow 
of a great rock in a weary land. And because of 
his hospitality, there are men and women in the 
fields who were refreshed and heartened by him in 
his home who will mourn with us when they hear 
of his departure to be with the Lord. 

No one saw Mr. Rains at his best who did not 
see him in his home. It was there that all the 
gentleness and tenderness and chivalry of his na- 
ture found expression. He loved his wife and chil- 



162 Francis Marion Rains 

dren with a surpassing love. Canon Kingsley used 
to say that there was more laughter in his home 
than in any other home in England. It is safe to 
say that there were few homes in America in which 
there was more contagious laughter and more riot- 
ous mirth than in the home of our friend. There 
a guest found what Milton called "jest, and youth- 
ful jollity." Mr. Eains was a boy to the last, and 
it was in his home that the boy side of his nature 
was seen to the best advantage. But there was 
another side ; his life was not all mirth and gayety. 
There was a serious element, and that was in evi- 
dence also. On the breakfast table there was the 
New Testament. Before partaking of food, the 
word of God was read and prayer was offered. 
When the Daily Altar was published he procured 
a copy and was delighted with it. He used it as 
long as he was able to go to the table. More than 
that, he spoke to his friends and visitors of this 
book and urged them to use it in their family wor- 
ship. Not only so, but he went before his children 
in the way of holiness and said to them, "This is 
the way, walk you in it." 

It should be said, and said with emphasis, that 
Mr. Rains was a genuinely religious man. Strang- 
ers were not always impressed with this fact. 
There was so much fun in his make-up that they 
thought he was all fun. The fun was there, but 
the fun was the foam on the surface of the sea. 
Those who were closest to him and knew him best 



He Did Good in Israel 163 

appraised him differently, and more justly. He 
was educated by Robert Graham, Isaiah Grubbs 
and John W. McGarvey, and was by them in- 
structed in the fundamentals of our holy religion, 
and from these fundamentals he never departed 
by so much as a hair's breadth. He held the sov- 
ereignty of God, the Deity and Saviorhood and 
Lordship of Christ, the agency of the Holy Spirit 
in conversion and sanctification, the inspiration 
and all-sufficiency of the Scriptures, the observance 
of the ordinances as given to us, the church as 
God's instrument to bring in the Kingdom. His 
reading, and his experiences broadened his horizon 
and modified some of his early opinions and views, 
but they did not affect the fundamentals. He kept 
his mind open to truth from all sources ; he was a 
forward-looking man; in the best sense he was a 
modern man ; but he was as loyal to the faith once 
for all delivered to the saints as any of his illus- 
trious teachers in the College of the Bible. As the 
end approached he could make Paul's words his 
own, ' ' I have fought the good fight ; I have finished 
my course ; I have kept the faith. ' ' 

Mr. Eains loved the Lord, and the Lord 's house, 
and the Lord's people, and the Lord's day. He 
loved the church, he honored the church, he sup- 
ported the church. As long as he was able he at- 
tended the morning service, the evening service, 
and the midweek service. He was ever the staunch 
and loyal friend of the minister in charge. Mr. 



164 Francis Marion Rains 

Rains was a man of faith and prayer. He read the 
Bible and guided his life and conduct by its teach- 
ing. One of the last things that he asked for was 
his Bible. Because of the "mortal mist" that cov- 
ered his eyes he could not read a word of it, but 
it was a satisfaction to handle the Book of God, 
the Book whose teaching had made him wise unto 
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, the Book 
he had read and preached for so many years, the 
Book whose precepts were more precious to him 
than gold, yea, than much fine gold, that were 
sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. He fon- 
dled and caressed the Holy Book as lovingly as he 
did his little grandchild a few days before. 

Sometimes Mr. Rains was misunderstood and 
misrepresented. He could not always stop to ex- 
plain why he did or why he did not do certain 
things. He had a great work on hand and could 
not stop for explanations. The soldiers at the 
Argonne could not stop to explain their move- 
ments; had they done so all would have been lost. 
Some thought him cold and unfeeling. No man was 
more easily or more deeply touched by a generous 
deed or a noble sentiment. His eyes would fill, the 
ground-swell of emotion prevented utterance, and 
he turned away to hide his tears. 

But while some criticised his actions, no one 
questioned his integrity. He handled millions and 
gave an account for every penny. He went in and 
out among the people, and the breath of suspicion 



lie Bid Good in Israel 165 

never rested on his name. Like Tennyson's ideal 
Prince, he ever wore the white flower of a blameless 
life, in that fierce light that beats upon a public 
man and blackens every blot. No father could 
wish for an only son a career more stainless. Mr. 
Rains had a clean heart, and he lived a clean life. 
He had troops of friends. In the churches that he 
dedicated there were those who believed in him 
absolutely. And so it can be confidently affirmed 
that honor and love, and the good repute that fol- 
lows faithful service as its fruit, were his portion. 
He was loved and he loved in return. He was 
proud of the religious people of which he was a 
member. He rejoiced in the principles for which 
they stood, and believed in their ultimate triumph. 
A week before his translation, when speaking was 
difficult, he kept murmuring the phrase, "I love 
the brethren. ' ' That was his thought as the splen- 
dors of eternity fell upon him thick and fast, and 
he caught glimpses of the King in his beauty. He 
loved the missionaries and wore himself out in his 
efforts to provide them the equipment they needed 
for the most successful prosecution of their work. 
All through his life he loved our ministers and 
maintained that they constituted the finest body of 
preachers in the world. He had been in hundreds 
of their homes, and he spoke what he believed to 
be God's truth concerning them. 

Four years ago, because of the great service 
which he had rendered, and because of the condi- 



166 Francis Marion Rains 

tion of his health, the society in convention assem- 
bled elected him Secretary Emeritus for life. It 
was understood that he was free to come and go 
as he pleased, to do much or little or nothing at 
all as it suited his taste and convenience. He was 
grateful for this honor, but he was unwilling to be 
idle. He wished to live and serve for at least ten 
years longer. He thought that all that had been 
done thus far was preparatory, that we are living 
in the rich dawn of an ampler day and that we 
are to see larger things, and it was his ambition to 
have a share in bringing these larger things to 
pass. While he was weak, he was not an old man 
either in spirit or in appearance. His father died 
at the age of eighty-one years, and he saw no rea- 
son why he might not live as long as his father. 
He had no organic disease; he had done the work 
of three ordinary men, and he died from sheer ex- 
haustion. Measured by the calendar Mr. Rains 
was comparatively a young man ; measured by his 
achievements he lived longer than the oldest of the 
Patriarchs. He was eager to live on and to assist 
in the work of the Society and at the same time 
he realized that he was in God's hands, and that 
God knew what is best. At noon on Friday, Octo- 
ber 24, 1919, God called him, and like Valiant-for- 
truth in Bunyan's immortal allegory, he passed 
over and all the trumpets sounded for him on the 
other side. 



He Bid Good in Israel 167 

"And they buried him in the city of David 
among the kings, because he had done good in Is- 
rael, both toward God and toward his house/ ' 
When Livingstone 's body was brought to England, 
the nation wished to pay him the highest honor of 
which it was capable. The supreme honor was a 
burial in Westminster Abbey. The sentiment of 
the people expressed itself in the lines : 

"Open the Abbey doors, and bear him in, 

To sleep with king and statesman, chief and sage, 

The missionary come of weaver kin, 

But great by work that brooks no lower wage." 

And so the sacred dust of Livingstone rests in 
Westminster Abbey, the Pantheon of the British 
Empire, among kings and statesmen, among the 
greatest men the Empire has produced, the men 
that fertilized the world with their inventions and 
discoveries and services. 

If among the Disciples of Christ there were a 
Westminster Abbey, or a Pantheon, or a Hall of 
Fame, undoubtedly Francis Marion Rains would 
be assigned a place of highest honor in it, a place 
among the kings. We have no royal sepulchers. 
How then can we show our regard for this heroic 
servant of the king, this mighty missionary leader ? 
We deposit his wasted form in beautiful Spring 
Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio, beside those 
whom he loved long since and lost a while ; and we 
shall enshrine him in our hearts and keep him 



168 Francis Marion Rains 

there till the walls thereof shall moulder and 
crumble to dust away, because he did good in Is- 
rael, both toward God and toward his house. 



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